"The Inglewood Zone"

Garrett Gomez returned to So-Cal and quickly got back into the winner's circle in the first two races at Hollywood Park on Sunday. Both were stakes races. The first was the Magali Farms Stakes for 3-year-old maidens and Gomez won aboard Rare Exchange who paid $3.60. The second was the Fran Valentine Stakes for 4-year-olds and up (fillies and mares) on the turf. He rode Nashoba's Key who also paid $3.60. Welcome back Garrett, for now.

Gomez, the country's leading rider, also made local news as his bid to build a 2-story home in his Duarte (adjacent to Arcadia) neighborhood was rejected by the city council. He apparently wanted to tear down his existing house and build a two-story 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom house on the propery but neighbors and the city objected because it violated city code.

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The Pick 6 prize was finally snatched on Saturday. The three day record pool was enormous and 71 tickets had all 6 and each won $46,492. The regulars are a little annoyed at the way things have been playing out. The form is way off. Going from dirt handicapping at Santa Anita to the cushion track at Hollywood has made for some strange goings-on. From what I've heard some of the regular horse-players around here are considering sitting out a few days to see how this track is gonna play. Yeah right.

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Also at Hollywood, Kentucky Derby contenders Tiago and Stormello had their final works in preparation for their trip to the Kentucky Derby. Tiago went 6 furlongs in 1:11.40 with his jockey Mike Smith aboard and Stormello went 5/8 in 1:00.80.

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I haven't decided where I stand in terms of my "Derby trifecta" yet. I'll wait until the field is announced and I'm looking forward to reports on all the local horses from Churchill Downs this week. I can't wait for the Derby.

Espinoza Rides For His Life

The clouds showed up and threatened but the rains never came. Just a few drops right before the 9th. The people came too, but not nearly in the numbers they did yesterday when sports fans from everywhere, enticed by the offer of a free baseball cap, filed in in large numbers. Yesterday was fan appreciation day and everything cost $1, except bets over $1. I met my pop in the pavilion, just before the 2^nd race.

Yesterday, I overheard a guy ask his girlfriend, "what happens if the long shot wins?" They have a parade down Baldwin Ave., of course.

In the 5^th at Bay Meadows a 15-1 morning line horse opened up at 2-1. He held steady for most of the wagering, eventually going off near 9-2. I put some dough on him and after about a 1:12, I found why he was 15-1 on the morning line. I think he’s still running.

The big one today, of course, was the Grade II San Juan Capistrano Handicap. Slightly more than a mile and 3/4 on the hillside turf. Victor Espinoza and On the Acorn – a former claimer - out-gutted the field and took command in the stretch and at the end of the marathon race – by American standards - passed the favorite and class of the field, Sweet Return.

The win in the 9^th was Espinoza’s first of the day and it tied him with Garrett Gomez for the jockey wins title at the winter meet at Santa Anita. Gomez has been riding at Keeneland for the last few weeks and Espinoza has been steadily gaining on him. Closing. Closing. Closing.

So the real drama was in the 10^th. The last race of the meet. Maiden Claimers at 7 furlongs. Espinoza was on the favorite, the 2-horse – Ruthie’s Girl.

Just before the race, Trevor Denman announced: “If Victor Espinoza wins the race aboard Ruthie’s Girl, he will win the riding title. He is currently tied with Garrett Gomez.”

“Who cares about that, run the race,” yelled the guy next to us.

My dad turned to me, “he thinks Gomez deserves it.”

“He does, in a way, but…”

My dad turned to the guy and asked, “you think Gomez deserves it?”

They guy looked over at us, “no, I don’t care,” the old guy yelled, “I place parlayed him with the field.” We all laughed as the guy walked away yelling something, waving his cigar in the air.

Ruthie’s Girl broke a little slow and fell off the leaders early. As the field entered the turn near the 3/8 pole, Victor was pushing his horse, trying to will her in. Trying to will in the chalk for the masses who had been losing money all day on 2^nd and 3^rd favorites. Trevor Denman said, “Victor Espinoza is riding for his life out there.” Ruthie’s Girl just didn’t understand the importance.

In the end the girl never fired and finished 9^th at 2-1. Gomez and Espinoza are tied now, and forever.