HOLLYWOOD PARK : Auto Accident Costs Valenzuela Even More in Winner’s Circle

Even though Pat Valenzuela escaped serious injury in a Friday morning auto accident, the collision has proved costly to the jockey.

Off his mounts again Saturday because of neck and overall soreness, Valenzuela gave up four winners, including Guislane in the $83,300 Allez France Handicap at Hollywood Park. Not only that, the luxury car given to him by owner Allen Paulson for his Breeders’ Cup victories aboard Eliza and Fraise was totaled in the mishap.

Valenzuela’s absence was jockey Goncalino Almeida’s gain. Guislane was one of two winners the Brazilian had after being shut out in the first 18 days of the meeting.

Racing with Lasix for the first time after suffering pulmonary bleeding when fifth in the Las Palmas Handicap, Guislane, the 2-1 favorite, beat Explosive Ele by a neck in 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Purchased for Motown founder Berry Gordy by trainer Rodney Rash, the 3-year-old Guislane won three of 13 races in France before coming to the United States last summer.

“That was a tremendous second race in (this) country,� said Rash, who has five horses for Gordy and one on the way. The colt, Alex The Great, will arrive Monday from France.

“She bled enough (in the Las Palmas) to hinder her performance. I wondered because she had such strong form in France until her last race there at Deauville (an eighth-place finish) was off. We checked her leading up to (the Las Palmas), but she never showed anything until the race.

And Saturday?

“She got shuffled back early, but (Almeida) kept his head and sat back and made a run with her. She switched leads and took off. (Almeida) said he knew the other filly was coming, but he didn’t use the whip. He knew he had it.�

Almeida made no mistakes on Guislane, nor did he on Tutts, the other winner he picked up from Valenzuela. Tutts is owned by Paulson and trained by Ron McAnally, who uses Almeida more frequently than anybody else.

“The two wins were nice,� Almeida said. “Mr. McAnally and Rodney were good to give me a shot.�

Said Corey Nakatani, rider of Explosive Ele, the 3-1 third choice: “There was nowhere to run. You can’t go five-wide, which is what I would have ended up having to do. She came rolling, but we were just a little unlucky. She rated great. I think she was the best horse in the race by far. The horses in front of me were bumping, and I just had nowhere to go.

“On the turf, I always try to stay inside and try to get a clean trip, but I just had nowhere to go today.�

Alysbelle, an 18-1 shot, was third, a little more than a length behind Explosive Ele and a half-length in front of pacesetter Vijaya. Euphonic, the 3-1 second choice, was fifth.

Fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his last start, Reign Road is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $100,000-added Native Diver Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

The 4-year-old Sovereign Dancer colt will be seeking his fourth victory in his last six starts against six others in the 1 1/8-mile race. Kent Desormeaux will ride for trainer Jay Robbins.

Reign Road, who will carry high weight of 120 pounds, won two races at Del Mar, including the Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 14-1, then went to Oak Tree and scored an 8-1 upset in the Goodwood Handicap. He then was beaten by four lengths by A.P. Indy in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

June’s Reward, who rallied from next-to-last to win the California Cup Classic, is the 5-2 second choice. The 4-year-old Hail Bold King gelding will be making his first start on the Hollywood Park main track. Eddie Delahoussaye has the mount.

Berillon, who won the Hillsdale Handicap at $44 in his first start on dirt for trainer Bobby Frankel, is the 3-1 third choice, then comes Sir Beaufort (5-1), Doc Of The Day (6-1) and Memo (12-1). Whatcom Warrior and Mr. Integrity were scratched Saturday.

Sir Beaufort’s rider, Chris McCarron, has won the Goodwood the last three years and two of those were for Whittingham, Sir Beaufort’s trainer.

Scott Wells, a former trainer and former assistant director of media relations at Hollywood Park, and Mike Willman, the closed-circuit television host, have been hired by Hollywood Park.

Wells is the director of horsemen’s relations and Willman is the track’s television coordinator.

“I want horsemen to understand they have a direct line of communication with us,� R.D. Hubbard, Hollywood Park’s chairman of the board, said of Wells’ position. “We looked around the country for the right person to act in this liaison position, and Scott comes to us with the highest recommendations of horsemen and track management alike.�

Horse Racing Notes

Pricelessly, the 2-year-old full brother to Flawlessly, will make his debut in the sixth race today at six furlongs. Also in the field of 12 is Iron Rochelle, a half-brother to Snow Chief. . . . The other winners jockey Pat Valenzuela skipped were Eastern Knockout in the second and Bucking Bird in the ninth. Corey Nakatani rode the former and Eddie Delahoussaye the latter. . . . Trainer Rodney Rash said that Guislane might return in the closing-day Dahlia Handicap Dec. 24, a race that might also attract Kostroma.