Races Going Down to Wire

With eight days left in the spring-summer meet at Hollywood Park, the races for jockey and trainer titles have boiled down to two-way affairs.

Victor Espinoza leads Patrick Valenzuela in the rider standings, 54 victories to 52, and Jeff Mullins holds a two-winner lead over defending champion Doug O’Neill in the trainers’ race, 28-26.

Valenzuela has a chance to gain ground on Espinoza when racing resumes tonight because he has five mounts, compared to three for Espinoza. Four of the horses Valenzuela is riding are contenders: Helmsgold in the second, Classy Coed in the third, Bradford in the fourth and Fightinthecat in the eighth.

O’Neill, who had 31 victories at the 2005 spring-summer session, will run longshot Dancing Britches in the second and Hopingandwishing, who is dropping in class and will be ridden by Valenzuela, in the fifth. The only starter for Mullins, who is winning at a 26% rate, compared to 15% for O’Neill, is River Fox in the eighth.

Race of the day: Sun King, beaten by a head by Silver Train in the Metropolitan Handicap on May 29, will seek his seventh victory today in the $65,000 Albert The Great at Belmont Park. Rafael Bejarano will ride the 4-year-old Charismatic colt for owner Tracy Farmer and trainer Nick Zito in the 1 1/16 -mile race.

One for the road: Jewels Of Bagdad is a tough customer when she is able to make a clear lead early and she should do just that in the eighth race today at Pleasanton. Apprentice Luis Martinez will ride the 4-year-old Latin American filly for owner G. Chris Coleman and new trainer Ted H. West in the $27,000 starter allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using Romantic Rogue in the first, Multiple, Helmsgold and Flower Hill in the second, Devon’s Queen, Classy Coed and Megan’s Mia in the third, and Bradford, Dark Past and Bewitching Bartok in the fourth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/125. Money: (previous day/meet total): $8.80/$760. Total money bet: $926.