Gallagher Going for Two

Paddy Gallagher will try to become only the third trainer to win the Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap in consecutive years. The race will be run for the 55th time today at Hollywood Park.

The legendary Charlie Whittingham was the first to accomplish the feat with Turkish Trousers in 1971 and Le Cle a year later.

More recently, Paulo Lobo won two in a row, scoring with Quero Quero in 2003 and Lovely Rafaela the following spring.

Gallagher, who won the Grade II stakes race a year ago with Three Degrees, will be represented by Proxenia this afternoon in a race that is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $163,366.

Owned by Harlequin Ranches, the English-bred daughter of Pursuit Of Love will be a longshot in the $175,000 Honeymoon. She has only one win in 12 starts, but is a must-use for exotics players given the fact she has been second or third in nine of her losses.

Alex Solis, whose lone victory in the Honeymoon came with Do So in 1988, has the mount on Proxenia, who will be opposed by Galileo’s Star; Attima, who was very impressive in her first in this country for trainer Julio Canani; Foxysox, Arlene, Harriett Lane and Royal Cheer.

Race of the day: Carthage, who has won four in a row, including an upset of Lost In The Fog in the Golden Gate Sprint Handicap on April 22, will take on 18-time winner Trickey Trevor and three others today in the $125,000 Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Sprint Handicap. Dennis Carr will ride Carthage, a 6-year-old son of Smoke Glacken, for trainer Art Sherman, who also is a part owner of the gelding with Phil Baneth and Tony Vitone, in the Grade III race at six furlongs.

One for the road: My Little Bean goes from inside to outside for her second career start and should show big improvement in the fourth race today at Belmont Park. Apprentice Pablo Morales will ride the 3-year-old David filly for owner Barry Schwartz and trainer Michael Hushion in the $41,000 maiden affair for New York-breds at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Excessive Tale in the third, Twinful, Hot Contest and Bull Moose in the fourth and Kern, Spirited Way and Quebec Citizen in the fifth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/76. Money: (previous day/meet total): $5/$494.80. Total money bet: $540.