Gomez Will Keep Busy With 7 Inglewood Rides

Jockey Garrett Gomez, who began the week atop the jockey standings at Hollywood Park, is riding in seven of eight races today, and almost all of the horses are serious contenders.

In the opener, a $12,500 claimer for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, Gomez will be aboard Vegas Folly. A 5-year-old daughter of Real West, she defeated $16,000 claimers by a nose April 30 in her fourth start after being claimed for $25,000 by trainer Jack Carava for J S Bohon Stables.

Gomez will ride a pair of first-time starters in the next two races, Keepmeinyourheart and Bandera Negra, then will ride Gateway Arch for trainer Mike Mitchell in the fifth, dropper Crystal House in the sixth, longshot Madringa in the seventh and Mudweiser in the eighth.

The only race in which Gomez is without a mount is the fourth, a $46,000 maiden contest at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Honorable Coach, who finished second to Leo Getz in his first start on grass April 14 at Santa Anita, is the one to beat for trainer John Shirreffs. Rene Douglas will ride the 3-year-old Double Honor gelding.

Race of the day: Lemon Drop Gal, who was the beaten favorite in the Xtra Heat over a sloppy track at Pimlico on April 30, hopes to rebound with a return to New York in today’s eighth at Belmont Park. Apprentice Channing Hill will ride the 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, the upset winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes, for Timber Bay Farm and Mrs. Thomas Walsh and trainer Jimmy Jerkens in the $45,000 allowance at six furlongs. Career Oriented, My Favorite Angel, Intense Desire, Atticus’s Woman and Darn That Girl complete the field.

One for the road: Mark Of Courage makes his second start after a layoff of more than a year and should move forward for trainer Grant Hofmans in today’s sixth at Churchill Downs. Rafael Bejarano takes over on the 5-year-old Colonial Affair gelding.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Honorable Coach and Fire Wood in the fourth, Gateway Arch, Cherokee Spires and Summer Jersey in the fifth and Crystal House, Kwame and Good Lord Laurie in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/49. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.60/$263.20. Total money bet: $330.