Frankel Doubles His Chances

Bobby Frankel has won the $500,000 Matriarch, which will be run for the 24th time today, on five occasions, second among trainers to the late Charlie Whittingham’s seven victories.

Frankel, who has won two of the last three Matriarchs, will send out an entry of Intercontinental and Etoile Montante against seven other fillies and mares as Hollywood Park completes its three-day Turf Festival. The other Grade I on the program is the $500,000 Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles.

Intercontinental and Etoile Montante have combined to win five of 10 starts this year. The former, a 4-year-old Danehill filly, will be reunited today with jockey Jerry Bailey. Edgar Prado will be aboard Etoile Montante, a 4-year-old daughter of Miswaki, for the first time.

The other top contenders are Ticker Tape, a 3-year-old who can strengthen her claim for an Eclipse award, and Musical Chimes, who is seeking her second Grade I of the year for trainer Neil Drysdale.

Blackdoun, who swept Del Mar’s three-race series for 3-year-old turf runners this summer, heads the field in the Derby. The Matriarch and Derby are part of a pick six that has a guaranteed pool of $1 million.

Race of the day: Friendly Island, who has won five of six for trainer Todd Pletcher, will try for his first graded stakes victory in today’s $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. A Grade III at six furlongs, the Highweight was supposed to be run on Thanksgiving, but bad wea- ther caused Aqueduct to call off the final seven races on the card.

One for the road: Dynawhite makes his first start in California and first for high-percentage trainer John Martin and can make a successful debut at Golden Gate Fields in today’s third.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Forward March in the first, Turn The Kee, Affidavit and Fruition’s First in the second and Pepper Trail, Grey Misty and Ceez The Minute in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/50. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22.60/$294.80 Total money bet: $324.