Bend Has the Inside Track

After a three-day break, racing resumes at Hollywood Park and will continue through Tuesday. There will be no racing July 5 or 6, but then the Inglewood track will begin the final eight days of the meet on July 7.

The main event on the card today is a $55,000 allowance for older fillies and mares at one mile on the turf.

Ten are scheduled to run and a case can be made for several of the entrants, including the lone last-out winner in the bunch.

That would be Bend, a 5-year-old Arch mare who upset eight opponents at 20-1 in her return to this turf course on May 20.

Owned by breeder Claiborne Farm and trained by Gary Mandella, Bend won by three-quarters of a length at today’s distance for her second victory in six tries on the Hollywood Park grass. After breaking from post eight last time, she has the rail today and will keep jockey David Cohen.

Jose Valdivia Jr. was named to ride Dancing Rose in the race, but he won’t be riding for some time. Valdivia is expected to be sidelined until the beginning of Del Mar after breaking his collarbone in a mishap in the Cinema on Sunday. Del Mar kicks off its summer meet on July 19.

Race of the day: Sugar Shake, who beat maidens by 3 1/4 lengths in her Belmont Park debut on May 25, will try for her second victory in a row over the track in the eighth race today. Javier Castellano stays with the 3-year-old Awesome Again filly for Stronach Stables and trainer Bobby Frankel in the $46,000 optional claimer at one mile.

One of the fillies Sugar Shake has to beat is Altesse, who beat maidens by four lengths over a muddy track at Belmont on June 8.

One for the road: Minnehaha Chic was beaten by only half a length when she came in second in her return to turf and can break her maiden in the sixth race today at Churchill Downs. Phil Teator will ride the 4-year-old Exploit filly for trainer Tom Smith in the $50,000 race at one mile. Minnehaha Chic was 3 1/4 lengths clear of the show horse when she was defeated by Pine Shelter on May 17.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using He’s The Rage and Power Boy in the third, Miss Kayleigh D in the fourth and Indy Weekend, Lightning Hit and Bransfield in the fifth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/113. Money: (previous day/meet total): $5/$695.20. Total money bet: $816.