Berbatim Looks Ready for a Honeymoon Trip

The $175,000 Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap, which will be run for the 54th time today at Hollywood Park, has something most stakes races in California haven’t had in recent years.

Specifically, a large field. Thirteen 3-year-old fillies were entered in the Grade II at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and a case can be made for several of the likely participants.

Louvain, a 3-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Sinndar trained by Bobby Frankel for owner Ed Gann, is one of the contenders. She has been idle since making a successful U.S. debut in a division of the Miesque over this course Nov. 26. Never worse than third in six career starts, Louvain will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.

Based on her win in the Providencia at Santa Anita on April 9, Berbatim is the filly to beat. A daughter of Bernstein, who is a son of Storm Cat, owned by Gary and Wendy Broad and trained by Richard Mandella, she won the Grade III by 2 1/2 lengths in her first try at the Honeymoon distance.

Other contenders include Three Degrees, who missed by a nose in the Senorita on May 8 in her first start around two turns, Thatswhatimean, Royal Copenhagen, Unusual Spring and Singhalese.

Race of the day: Melhor Ainda, arguably the best 3-year-old turf filly in the country, will try to remain unbeaten in her fourth career start in today’s $100,000 Sands Point at Belmont Park. Owned by T N T Stud and trained by Frankel, the daughter of Pulpit has won her first three races by a combined 15 lengths. John Velazquez will ride Melhor Ainda in the Grade III at 1 1/8 miles and she is scheduled to ship west for the $750,000 American Oaks on July 3 at Hollywood Park.

One for the road: Estrella de Oro should enjoy the stretch to seven furlongs and can graduate in her second career outing in today’s fourth at Churchill Downs. Corey Lanerie will ride the 3-year-old Belong To Me filly for owner Farfellow Farms Ltd and trainer David Carroll in the $47,100 maiden contest.

Exotically speaking: A late pick four using Marsupial, Unpredict Prospect and Callmetony in the sixth, Madour in the seventh, Ramautelle, Abounding Truth and Tucked Away in the eighth and Nucaya, Kiss’n Dyna, Rainbow Girl and Love Beat in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/79 Money: Previous day/meet total: $4.60/$393. Total money bet: $552.