The Field Will Be Full for Gold Cup

Lava Man, the upset winner of the Californian for trainer Doug O’Neill on June 18, was given high weight of 118 pounds for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, which will be run for the 66th time Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Eleven are expected for the Grade I at 1 1/4 miles, including Eastern horses Limehouse and Perfect Drift. The last time there were more starters in the Gold Cup was 1977, when a dozen participated.

Crystal Water won a thriller that day, edging Cascapedia and Caucasus.

Owned by Dogwood Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Limehouse is expected to ship to Hollywood Park from New York on Wednesday, the day entries will be taken for the Gold Cup.

Perfect Drift, a 6-year-old son of Dynaformer, is supposed to leave Kentucky today for Stonecrest Farm and trainer Murray Johnson. Although he has won only once since the beginning of 2004, Perfect Drift, who will be ridden by Gary Stevens, has earned almost $3.3 million in his career.

Other probables for the Gold Cup, which is the main event on a card that will also include the $400,000-added Swaps Stakes and the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap, are Al Arz, Anziyan Royalty, Borrego, Congrats, Deputy Lad, Musique Toujours, Pt’s Grey Eagle and Keep On Punching.

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After having to settle for second with the previously unbeaten Melhor Ainda in the $750,000 American Oaks on Sunday, the Bobby Frankel stable got something of a consolation prize Monday when 19-10 favorite Louvain won the $112,900 Flawlessy Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Scratched from the Oaks in favor of this easier spot, Louvain won for the second time in three U.S. starts for owner Ed Gann. Victor Espinoza rode the 3-year-old Irish-bred as she won by 1 1/2 lengths. She completed the mile on turf in 1:34.49.

Royal Copenhagen, who was far back early, rallied for second as the 7-2 second choice, beating 10-1 Island Escape by a head.

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Kitten’s Joy, the champion male turf horse of 2004, made a successful 4-year-old debut, winning the $250,000 Firecracker Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Making his first start since he finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park, the son of El Prado and 3-5 favorite won by a length over 2-1 second choice Old Forester. Ridden by Edgar Prado, Kitten’s Joy, who is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Dale Romans, ran the mile in the Grade II in 1:35.25.

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Like Kitten’s Joy, Roman Ruler was a winner in his return, taking the $150,000 Dwyer at Belmont Park by half a length over 17-10 favorite Flower Alley.

Inactive since finishing last in the San Felipe on March 19 at Santa Anita, the 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.83 under jockey Jerry Bailey.

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Two races before the Dwyer, Henny Hughes, the 7-10 favorite, remained unbeaten in two starts with a 15-length blowout of five rivals in the $107,700 Tremont Stakes.