Skipaslew Makes a Return
The $100,000 Wilshire Handicap is not the only stakes race on the opening-day card at Hollywood Park.
Five older horses will compete in the $62,000 Cougar II, a 1 1/16 -mile affair that will be the first race on the program.
The Cougar II, named for the multiple stakes winner who was trained by the late Charlie Whittingham, will mark the return of Skipaslew.
Skipaslew, a 5-year-old son of Skip Away, will make his first start since finishing sixth in the Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup Handicap on July 2 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
Skipaslew, winner of five of 20 but winless in three starts on the Hollywood Park main track, will have Corey Nakatani aboard. The chestnut will seek his first victory since winning the Santana Mile at Santa Anita on March 13, 2005.
The rest of the field includes probable pacesetter Courageous King, Keep On Punching, who has won two of six on the local main, Melanyhasthepapers, who was third in the Tokyo City Handicap in his last start, on April 1, and Tobe Suave, who hasn’t won since he took the Burnaby Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hastings Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 1, 2004.
Race of the day: Sweet Science, who has won two of three starts on the Keeneland turf course, will seek her second win of the month when she takes on five other older fillies and mares today in the $100,000 Bewitch. Rafael Bejarano will replace the injured John Velazquez on the 5-year-old Diesis mare in the Grade III at 1 1/2 miles.
One for the road: War God can score in his New York debut in the eighth race today at Aqueduct. Chuck Lopez will ride the 3-year-old Ecton Park gelding in the $45,000 optional claimer at seven furlongs. The race is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $43,888.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Dr. Seacliff in the fifth, Sixth Street Joe, Unrequited, Presidential Cause and Tug o’War in the sixth and Beautyandthebeast, Tanta Suerte and Heavenly Ransom in the seventh.
Winners (Final for Santa Anita): (previous day/meet total): 6/247. Money: (previous day/meet total): $28.80/$1,391.80. Total money bet: $1,492.