It’s More Than a Paper Chase for Melanie

Melanie Stubblefield has managed to remain neutral during most of the thousands of Hollywood Park races for which she has handled the paperwork, but during the $250,000 Californian on Saturday, expect her to be cheering for her namesake: Melanyhasthepapers.

“Ron Anson, his owner at the time, asked if he could name him for me and I said sure,” Stubblefield said from her desk in the racing office.

The incorrect spelling -- Melany instead of Melanie -- is because only 18 characters are allowed in a thoroughbred’s name, according to Jockey Club rules.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, five as assistant and 20 as clerk of the course,” Stubblefield said. “I’ll definitely be rooting for him. I always do.”

Melanyhasthepapers has developed into the top horse in the barn of trainer-owner Alfredo Marquez with five wins, four seconds and eight thirds in 25 starts for earnings of $306,152.

In his last start at Hollywood Park, the 5-year-old won the Cougar II Stakes on April 26.

Trivia time: Which pro football team’s backfield features two Heisman Trophy winners and the brother of another Heisman winner?

Sympathy for Blue Devil: Former Duke basketball player J.J. Redick was arrested this week by Durham, N.C., police on suspicion of drunk driving.

“In a touching show of campus support,” Dwight Perry wrote in the Seattle Times, “Redick got the unabashed backing of his coach, Mike Krzyzewski, not to mention 45 thank-you cards from the Duke lacrosse team.”

Premium blend: Pitcher Jason Grimsley said in a 20-page FBI affidavit that until last year, a large number of major league clubhouses had coffee pots that were laced with amphetamines.

Said Jay Leno: “You know, if they’re on speed, why does baseball take three hours to play? Put more speed in the coffee pots!”

Add Grimsley: Wrote David Thomas in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Odd twist to Grimsley admitting using performance-enhancing drugs -- it was Grimsley who first recommended his 42-58 record be erased from the record books.”

Come to papa: Father’s Day usually comes during the NBA Finals. It is an annual goal of league officials, said comedian Argus Hamilton: “Father’s Day is the day when most NBA players traditionally like to sit back, enjoy a big cigar, and take phone calls from all over the country.”

Looking back: On this date in 1893, R.W. Rueckheim invented the caramel-popcorn snack, Cracker Jack.

Trivia answer: The Toronto Argonauts, who will kick off their Canadian Football League season this week. Quarterback Damon Allen is the returning league MVP as well as the younger brother of 1981 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen (USC). New to the Argos this year are running back Ricky Williams (Texas, 1998) and Eric Crouch (Nebraska, 2001), their No. 3 quarterback.

And finally: Comedian Alex Kaseberg is looking forward to a particular World Cup matchup: “My favorite game is when Germany plays France; after the opening kickoff, the French start playing for the Germans.”