Flores Will Try Rare Repeat

The last jockey to win the $250,000 Californian in consecutive years is retired Hall of Famer Chris McCarron, who won with Mud Route in 1998 and with Old Trieste the next year.

David Flores, who won last year’s race with 9-10 betting favorite Even the Score, will try to match the feat Saturday at Hollywood Park with Ace Blue.

The Californian, a Grade II stakes race at 1 1/8 miles, is the last major prep for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9, and Ace Blue, a 5-year-old Brazilian bred, enters on a roll.

He has won three in a row and was privately purchased after his last win. Saturday’s race will be his first start for owners Sid and Jenny Craig and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

After winning three of seven in his native country, Ace Blue was fifth and seventh in his first two U.S. starts. But since then he has been perfect, winning at 1 1/16 miles at Bay Meadows, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. His victory in Inglewood came by a head over Ender’s Shadow in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 14.

The Californian will also mark the return of Choctaw Nation. A 5-year-old Louis Quatorze gelding who has earned $900,000 for owner Bob Bone and trainer Jeff Mullins since being claimed for $40,000 out of his debut, Choctaw Nation hasn’t run since finishing third in the $6-million Dubai World Cup on March 26 in the United Arab Emirates.

Originally partly owned and trained by Bruce Headley, Choctaw Nation finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Roses In May in the World Cup. He was a winner in his only previous race at Hollywood Park, rallying from last to take an optional claimer by three-quarters of a length on May 28, 2004.

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Besides the Californian, the Hollywood Park card on Saturday includes the $100,000-added Affirmed Handicap, a Grade III at 1 1/16 miles that is a prep for the $400,000 Swaps Stakes on July 9.

The Affirmed drew a field of six, topped by Santa Anita Derby winner Buzzards Bay. Owned by Fog City Stable and trained by Mullins, the 3-year-old Marco Bay colt hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Victor Espinoza will ride.

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Although fans, the track announcer and press box visitors felt the earthquake that hit Southern California on Thursday, jockeys who were riding in a race when it struck said they couldn’t feel the shaking.

Earthquakes have happened on race days before, but this was the first time in memory that one occurred during a race.

In the race, which was the second on the program, Dark Beauty, ridden by Kerwin John, prevailed in a photo finish over Pleasant Thunder and apprentice jockey David Cohen.

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Excess Temptations, a 3-year-old In Excess gelding, made a successful debut Thursday at Hollywood Park. Bred in California by John Harris and trained by Howard Zucker, Excess Temptations is owned by Harris, El Rey Racing and Dodger pitcher Brad Penny.

Ridden by Jon Court, Excess Temptations paid $14.80 and won in 1:02.67 for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

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The Californian

The field for the Grade II Californian Stakes, Saturday at Hollywood Park. Distance 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Purse: $250,000:

*--* PP Horse Jockey Age Sex Weight 1. Ace Blue David Flores 5 Horse 118 2. Skukuza Rene Douglas 5 Gelding 116 3. Keep On Punching Tyler Baze 4 Colt 116 4. Molengao Alex Solis 4 Colt 116 5. Borrego Garrett Gomez 4 Colt 116 6. Lava Man Patrick Valenzuela 4 Gelding 116 7. Anziyan Royalty Corey Nakatani 5 Horse 116 8. Choctaw Nation Victor Espinoza 5 Gelding 116

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