Jockey’s Perfect in Track Debut

Jockey Ramon Dominguez did as well as he possibly could in his first visit to Hollywood Park.

The country’s leading rider in total victories twice since 2001, Dominguez won with both of his mounts Friday, taking the first division of the $75,000 Miesque with 2-1 second choice Louvain and the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express with favored Cajun Beat.

Both winners are trained by Bobby Frankel, and it was business as usual for Frankel in the first day of Hollywood Park’s annual, three-day Turf Festival. The two victories bring his Festival total to 14, more than any other trainer, and he now has 40 graded stakes wins in 2004, tops in the nation.

Cajun Beat, whose biggest win came in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at nearly 23-1, rallied from well off the pace and went on to beat a troubled Geronimo by three lengths. Owned by a partnership that includes Padua Stable, the 2-1 favorite ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.08. He had finished second to Skeet in his only other start on grass June 14, 2003, at Churchill Downs.

Frankel, who didn’t indicate where Cajun Beat might surface next, was impressed with Dominguez.

“He’s a great rider,” he said. “He’s cool and doesn’t panic.”

Making her U.S. debut for owner Ed Gann, Louvain overpowered her seven rivals to win by two lengths in 1:37.19.

“It wasn’t a bad way to start,” said Dominguez. “Not bad at all. [Jockey] Rene Douglas had worked her in the morning and told me what he knew about her, how quiet she was. He really liked her and she performed pretty well for me.”

In the second -- and faster -- division of the Miesque, 8-5 favorite Paddy’s Daisy helped trainer Todd Pletcher pad his lead in the national trainer money standings with a neck victory over 7-2 third choice Conveyor’s Angel.

Pletcher, whose barn has banked approximately $17 million this year, picked up his second Turf Festival win when Paddy’s Daisy, a 2-year-old King Of Kings filly, won for the fourth time in five starts on turf. Pletcher’s other victory came with Texas Glitter in the 2002 Turf Express.

Owned by David Coia’s Stonehaven Farm, Paddy’s Daisy ran the mile in 1:36.92 and now has succeeded in four states. She had earlier wins in New York, New Jersey and Kentucky.

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Saint Liam, who just missed upsetting eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper in the Woodward Handicap on Sept. 11 at Belmont Park, was a prompt favorite in the $558,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

A 4-year-old son of Saint Ballado trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. for Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr., Saint Liam tracked the slow pace set by California invader Lundy’s Liability for most of the way, took the lead into the stretch and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 6-5 choice. Ridden by Edgar Prado, Saint Liam earned his fifth win in 14 starts while running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.81.

Seek Gold, a 42-1 shot who had delayed the start, then broke in badly after the gates opened, finished second, a nose in front of 3-1 second choice Perfect Drift. With his $55,800 payday, Perfect Drift pushed his 2004 earnings to $947,595 and, at the same time, extended his losing streak to 10 races.

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Daydreaming, the even-money favorite, held on to beat 3-1 second choice Bending Strings by a nose to win the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap, a Grade II, at Aqueduct.

The win was the sixth in 11 starts for the 3-year-old A.P. Indy filly, who is trained by Shug McGaughey. In earning her first graded stakes victory, she ran the mile in 1:35.29 under jockey Jerry Bailey.