HOLLYWOOD PARK : Masake Wins in Field of Four

Martin Pedroza was confident he was on the right filly when the field for Sunday’s Honeymoon Handicap numbered six.

Imagine how Masake’s jockey felt after the withdrawal of Fantastic Ways and Southern Truce, the main competition in the Grade III race. Fantastic Ways, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, was scratched Sunday morning because of a bruised hoof. Southern Truce, battling an abscess in one of her hoofs for a couple of days, was scratched five minutes before post time by the stewards on the advice of veterinarian Dr. Ray Baran.

With only three fillies to beat, Masake verified Pedroza’s faith. Able to save ground throughout and burst through a gaping hole opened when pacesetter Haunting drifted out badly turning into the stretch, the daughter of Master Willie won by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:42 for the 1 1/16 miles.

This was the second consecutive stakes victory for the 7-10 favorite, but the first graded stakes victory for Brian Sweeney since he became a trainer more than six years ago.

“I wish I was as confident as Martin was in the paddock,� said Sweeney, who trains what is probably the most notorious horse on the grounds--the maiden Law Journal, who lost for the 40th consecutive time last Wednesday.

“He worked her on the grass the other day (six furlongs in 1:12 2/5, May 17), and she’s just been training very well. She won her last race (the California Oaks) very easily, and in the Providencia (April 10 at Santa Anita), Martin came back saying she should have won by five (lengths). He was mad at himself for the week after.�

In the Providencia, which was won by Fantastic Ways, Masake, who began her career in Canada, had nowhere to go for the final three furlongs, according to Pedroza. She wound up fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

When the opportunity came to ride her again in Golden Gate’s California Oaks, Pedroza jumped.

“(Fantastic Way’s trainer) Gary (Jones) told my agent (Rich Silverstein) I could ride his filly in that race,� Pedroza remembered. “I told him I wanted to ride (Masake).

“I was boxed in from the three-eighths pole to the wire at Santa Anita, and she still only got beat a length.

“When you ride them, you see everything’s that’s happening. It’s like on the freeway--you can see who’s going where. (Haunting) was trying to get out. I sat chilly like Eddie D. (Delahoussaye). It worked out perfect. She’s a really nice filly.�

Haunting, the Honeymoon longshot at 6-1, saved the place by a nose over Now Showing, then withstood a claim of foul by Now Showing’s rider, Pat Valenzuela, for alleged interference around the turn. Saucy Lady B. was fourth and last.

David Flores is one of the many jockeys near the top of a tightly bunched field in the Hollywood Park jockey standings. With 21 victories, he held the lead after Saturday’s program, but Chris McCarron took it over with three winners Sunday.

Flores, 23, who has firmly established himself locally after beginning his career at Caliente in 1984, will have the biggest mount of his life in today’s $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap. He will handle Missionary Ridge in the Grade I, and it’s the richest race he’s ever ridden in.

Although Missionary Ridge probably will be the second-longest shot in a field that includes Itsallgreektome and Prized, there is precedent for a Flores-Bobby Frankel upset in a stakes race. Jockey and trainer teamed with 33-1 shot Miserden to win Del Mar’s Cabrillo Handicap last August.

“I feel good about the way things are going,� Flores said. “My agent (Bill Barisoff) is doing a great job, and a lot of times he gives me horses to ride that have a good chance.

“This is a tough circuit. I’m glad I’m here. I think we’re getting better every meet.�

Missionary Ridge, who won the San Jacinto Handicap the final day of Santa Anita, is the probable pacesetter in the Turf Handicap. Frankel also will saddle Shoemaker Handicap winner Exbourne.

“He ran a pretty good race last time, and he’s been training really well,� Flores said. “Bobby’s a good man. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s winning everywhere these days. These are very, very tough horses, but he has a chance.�

Housebuster is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for today’s $500,000 Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park, which will be simulcast at Hollywood Park.

Second in his first two starts of the year, Housebuster bounced back with a victory in the Carter Handicap earlier this month, beating Black Tie Affair by 2 1/4 lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:21 1/5.

The 4-year-old Mt. Livermore colt drew post four in the field of 14. He will be ridden by Craig Perret and carry high-weight of 124 pounds.

In Excess, the winner of the San Fernando Stakes in his first start on dirt and idle since finishing a distant fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap, is the 6-1 third choice in New York. Pat Valenzuela will ride the Bruce Jackson-trained colt, who scratched from last weekend’s Mervyn LeRoy at Hollywood Park.

Letthebighossroll, the 3-year-old gelding who is unbeaten in four starts for trainer Bob Baffert, is part of the mutuel field at 20-1. He has the outside post in the large field and, at 107 pounds, will be getting 17 from Housebuster. Julio Garcia will ride for the first time.

The rest of the field includes Killer Diller, Silver Survivor, Gervazy, De Roche, Senor Speedy, Kyle’s Our Man, Black Tie Affair, Great Normand, Wind Splitter, Greydar and Rubiano.

Horse Racing Notes

Julio Garcia, who won with only one of his first 22 starters on turf, swept both grass races Sunday, scoring with longshots Hecquet in the fifth and Romantic Prince in the ninth. . . . Prized is the 8-5 morning line choice for the Turf Handicap. Itsallgreektome is 9-5. Then comes Jungle Pioneer and Exbourne (4-1) and Missionary Ridge and River Warden (15-1).

Lost Mountain and Scan earned trips to the Belmont Stakes with performances in the 1 1/8 Peter Pan at Belmont Park. Lost Mountain, who finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness, won the Peter Pan, and Scan was third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Man Alright.