They’ll Try to Knock ‘Sox Off

Between Churchill Downs and Hollywood Park, bettors won’t be lacking for opportunities today.

Including the Kentucky Derby, Churchill is offering 12 races, and Hollywood Park has 11, including two graded stakes. Both of the Hollywood Park stakes -- the $100,000 Senorita at a mile on the turf and the $100,000 Railbird at seven furlongs -- will be run before the Derby goes about 3 p.m.

A Grade III for 3-year-old fillies, the Senorita attracted six, headed by Foxysox.

Owned by Warren B. Williamson and trained by Carla Gaines, Foxysox, an English-bred daughter of Foxhound, was a five-loss maiden when she arrived in the U.S. late last year but has been unblemished in California.

She won all three of her races at Santa Anita, all at the distance of the Senorita. After beating maidens by half a length at 12-1 on Feb. 9, Foxysox won two stakes -- the China Doll on March 11 and the Providencia on April 8. Alex Bisono has been aboard for all of her victories, and he retains the mount today.

Gaines also has another sharp filly in the field, No Greater Love. Completing the field are Horse B With You, Shermeen, Arlene and longshot Manhunter.

In the Railbird, also a Grade III, So Long Sonoma will make her stakes debut after beginning her career with two March wins at Santa Anita. A 3-year-old American Chance filly owned in part by trainer Bruce Headley, So Long Sonoma beat maidens by a nose before returning nearly four weeks later to win more impressively in an allowance race. With Alex Solis busy in Kentucky with Brother Derek, Jon Court will ride the $105,000 yearling purchase.

So Long Sonoma will have five opponents, including Bettarun Fast, El Mirage Queen and Acceleration, the 1-2-3 finishers in the Santa Paula on April 1. Mystery Girl and Silly Little Mama are also entered.

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Post time for the first race from Churchill Downs is 8 a.m. at Hollywood Park. The first live race will start at noon.