Gomez Tries to Extend Lead

With nine days left in Hollywood Park’s spring-summer meet, jockey Garrett Gomez and trainer Doug O’Neill have sizable leads in the standings.

Gomez, who has ridden more horses (310) than any other rider in Inglewood, is on top with 52 victories, seven more than Alex Solis and Victor Espinoza.

O’Neill, meanwhile, has an even larger lead. O’Neill, who has started 172 horses, 77 more than any other trainer, has 29 wins, putting him 11 in front of Mike Mitchell and 12 up on Vladimir Cerin.

Hoping to extend his advantage, Gomez has mounts in six of the eight races on today’s card, including Mudweiser in what serves as the feature, a $51,000 allowance for California-breds at 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Rafael Becerra, Mudweiser, a 3-year-old Mud Route gelding, will be stretching out again after beating maidens by two lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs June 10.

His effort was flattered when runner-up Maximum Heat came back to win Monday.

O’Neill will send out runners in two races today. He is scheduled to start Souvenir Sands, a recent $12,500 claim, and Fuzzyheadedlizard in the first, a 5 1/2 -furlong turf race for 3-year-olds running for a $62,500 tag, and first-time starter O Bee Naki, a 2-year-old Event Of The Year filly, in the sixth.

Race of the day: Winner, who beat maidens by 7 3/4 lengths in her career debut June 5, will try to stay perfect against only four opponents in today’s sixth at Belmont Park. John Velazquez will ride the 3-year-old daughter of Horse Chestnut for the Phipps Stable and trainer Shug McGaughey in the $45,000 allowance at 7 1/2 furlongs.

One for the road: Way Fleeter returns to her claimed level in her third for trainer Chuck Simon and can pick up her seventh lifetime win in today’s eighth at Churchill Downs. Jesus Castanon will ride the 5-year-old Will’s Way mare for owner Billy Hays in the $5,000 claimer for older fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $50,355.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using Things Happen in the first; Western Sovereign, Flom Master and Bert The Shirt in the second; Jelly Bean King, the Johnny Red Kerr entry and Cat Of Fifty Seven in the third; and Sip Sip and Farnham in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/142. Money: Previous day/meet total: $24/$763.50. Total money bet: $952.