New Streak in Making?

When Preachinatthebar won an allowance race May 8, the victory ended a six-race losing streak for the 4-year-old.

Before he defeated Melanyhasthepapers and three others as the 13-10 favorite, the gray son of Silver Charm had been winless since his nose victory over St Averil in the San Felipe on March 14, 2004, at Santa Anita.

Owned by breeder Mike Pegram and trained by Bob Baffert, Preachinatthebar will try to make it two in a row for the first time when he takes on four opponents in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park.

Since his latest win, Preachinatthebar, who could wind up being among the participants in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9, has worked four times at Santa Anita. He went in 1:11 3/5 , 1:11 2/5 and 1:11 4/5 in succession and capped his preparation with a 1:12 4/5 six-furlong workout Sunday morning.

The field is completed by Outta Here, Cheiron, Pt’s Grey Eagle and Fairly Crafty.

Cheiron, a 4-year-old Maria’s Mon colt owned by Notcis LLC and Neil Papiano and trained by Kristin Mulhall, hasn’t won since beating California-breds in the $250,000 Snow Chief on April 24, 2004. Patrick Valenzuela will ride.

Race of the day: Wave Her Home, who has won both of her starts for Farfellow Farms and trainer Todd Pletcher, will make her Belmont Park debut in today’s eighth, a $48,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. Apprentice jockey Channing Hill will ride the 4-year-old Grand Slam filly, who won her first two races at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland.

One for the road: Free To Please drops significantly in class and makes his first start for high-percentage trainer Art Sherman in today’s fourth at Stockton and should be difficult to catch. Barrington Harvey will ride the 4-year-old Free House gelding in the $8,000 maiden claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A late pick four using High Value Target in the fifth; Chains Required, Fresado and Present The Cork in the sixth; Preachinatthebar, Fairly Crafty and Cheiron in the seventh; and Golden Wager, Blaze It and Smokin Joeymodo in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/97 Money: Previous day/meet total: $13/$482.30. Total money bet: $690.