Memorette goes for Gold again

Since the start of the California Gold Rush, Hollywood Park’s answer to the California Cup at Santa Anita, only one horse has managed to win one of the races restricted to California-breds more than once.

Spinelessjellyfish, who was trained by Jenine Sahadi for Cardiff Stud Farm and Heller, won the Khaled on turf in 2000 and 2001 under jockey Chris McCarron. The narrow win in 2001 was the 7,000th victory of McCarron’s career.

There could be another double winner Sunday, when the Gold Rush is held for the eighth time at the Inglewood track.

Memorette, who won a thriller over Dancing Edie and Moscow Burning a year ago, returns to defend her title in the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine. Scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf, the Fran’s Valentine is one of 10 races for state-breds worth $1.31 million.

Owned by Betty Currin and trained by her husband, Bill, Memorette, a 5-year-old daughter of Memo, has won only once in nine starts since her victory by a neck in last year’s Fran’s Valentine, taking the Beverly Hills Handicap, a Grade II, less than two months later at Hollywood Park.

Able to hit the board only twice in six subsequent starts, Memorette could rebound, as she has been racing in better company. She hasn’t been in a race restricted to Cal-breds since her success in the Fran’s Valentine.

Bill Currin, who will saddle Stormello in the Kentucky Derby a week from today, believes the veteran mare, who has earned nearly $747,000, is ready.

“I think she’s coming up to the race better than last year. She had a good blowout the other day,” he said, referring to the fact she went three furlongs in 36 2/5 seconds Wednesday.

Kent Desormeaux, Stormello’s regular rider, returns to Hollywood Park to ride Memorette and also has the mount on Freesgood, a colt Currin bred and owns in partnership with Al Eisman, in the $250,000 Snow Chief.

Named in honor of the 1986 Preakness winner, the Snow Chief is a 1 1/8 -mile race for 3-year-olds and is the richest event on the Gold Rush program.

Freesgood, a gray son of Free House, has won two of seven, including a 12-1 upset in the California Cup Juvenile last October. Most recently, Freesgood was second in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows on March 10.

One race before the Snow Chief, Romance Is Diane will try to bounce back from two subpar performances at Santa Anita in the $200,000 Melair.

Owned by Senji Nishimura and trained by Mike Mitchell, the 3-year-old In Excess filly was well-beaten in the Las Virgenes and China Doll in Arcadia but scored the biggest victory of her career Dec. 17 at Hollywood Park. A 14-1 shot, she became a Grade I winner that day, taking the Hollywood Starlet by one length.

“There were some good horses in the Las Virgenes,” Mitchell said, referring specifically to Rags To Riches, who will be favored in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, “and [Romance Is Diane] got dirt in her face and didn’t like it. That won’t happen with Cushion Track. The China Doll was her first race on turf, and she didn’t rate well. But she’s been doing great since that race [March 3] and has trained very well on the Cushion.”

The other notable races on the card, which will feature a pick six with a guaranteed pool of $1 million, are the $150,000 B. Thoughtful for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs and the $150,000 Tiznow for older horses at 7 1/2 furlongs.

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Bwana Bull, who finished fifth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7, is one of 14 3-year-olds entered in the $100,000 Derby Trial today on the opening-day program at Churchill Downs.

Mark Guidry will ride the son of Holy Bull, who has won four of nine for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, in the ungraded race at 7 1/2 furlongs.

Meanwhile, at Aqueduct, seven 3-year-olds are scheduled to run in the $150,000 Withers, a Grade III at one mile.

Divine Park, unbeaten in two starts for owner James Barry and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, will break from the rail under jockey Alan Garcia against C P West, Frosty Secret, Street Magician, Mint Slewlep, Brisco N Logan and Our Sacred Honor.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com