Frankel Sweeps Weekend Oak Tree Stakes

Trainer Bobby Frankel made it a sweep of the stakes on Oak Tree’s closing weekend, winning Sunday’s $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap with 5-1 shot Theater R.N. On Saturday, the barn won the Morvich Handicap with Leroidesanimaux.

In winning for the fourth time in five starts, Theater R.N., a 4-year-old daughter of Theatrical, used a strong late run to beat 4-1 shot Lots Of Hope, who is also trained by Frankel, by a half-length in the Grade II. Ridden by Rene Douglas, the chestnut filly, who is owned by Mark Dedomenico’s Pegasus Thoroughbred Training Center, ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.81.

“I had never ridden her before, but the pace was slow and I wanted to get her in position, which I did, and I was able to save ground the whole way,” Douglas said. “I knew this filly would give me a good kick at the end. I timed it perfect, and I knew I was going to get up.”

Good Student, the 2-1 favorite, finished third.

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Corey Nakatani led the jockey standings at Oak Tree, winning 21 races and a meet-high five stakes. It was Nakatani’s third Oak Tree title, but his first since 1995.

Mike Mitchell topped the trainers with 13 victories, and Frankel had the most stakes wins, five. It was the fourth time Mitchell has led an Oak Tree season.

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Frankel also had a stakes winner in New York, teaming with Javier Castellano, the jockey who rode Ghostzapper to an impressive win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, in the $111,200 Sport Page Handicap at Aqueduct with 8-1 shot Mass Media.

The 3-year-old son of Touch Gold, who is owned by Gary and Mary West, won for the fifth time in seven starts. He completed the seven furlongs in 1:21 in the Grade III while beating Lion Tamer by 3 1/2 lengths.

A race later, Finery, a 6-1 shot, beat 8-1 outsider Madeira Mist by a half-length to capture the $115,700 Athenia Handicap.

Pablo Fragoso rode the 4-year-old Lear Fan filly for owner Althea Richards and trainer Billy Turner. She ran the 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf in 1:43.73 in winning for the fourth time in 10 starts. Snowdrops, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth.

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Sir Cherokee, who trailed early, rallied widest of all under jockey Calvin Borel to easily win the $165,300 Ack Ack Handicap, the opening-day feature at Churchill Downs.

The 6-1 fourth choice, Sir Cherokee, who is trained by Michael Tomlinson for Domino Stud, beat 3-5 favorite Fire Slam by 5 1/4 lengths and completed the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:29.48.

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Hollywood Park Facts

* Dates -- Wednesday-Dec. 20 (36 days).

* Post times -- 12:30 p.m., except 11 a.m. on Nov. 25 and 7:05 p.m. on Nov. 5 and Nov. 12.

* Significant races -- $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express (Nov. 26), $100,000 Miesque Stakes (Nov. 26), $100,000 Generous Stakes (Nov. 27), $400,000 Citation Handicap (Nov. 27), $500,000 Hollywood Derby (Nov. 28), $500,000 Matriarch (Nov. 28), $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (Dec. 4), $200,000 Hollywood Futurity (Dec. 18) and $200,000 Hollywood Starlet (Dec. 19).

* Leading jockey (2003 fall meet) -- Patrick Valenzuela (27 wins).

* Leading trainer (2003 fall meet) -- Jeff Mullins (13 wins).