Brave Act Back on Winning Track

Ron McAnally, the hottest trainer at Hollywood Park, actually saddled a loser Sunday.

French Chopper, the 2-1 second choice in the sixth race, finished third, but at the same time McAnally was losing, he also won with his other entrant, Five Schillings, a 38-1 shot.

Two races later, McAnally made it seven victories in the last six racing days and 12 from 28 starters for the meet when Brave Act, a 2-1 favorite, impressively won the $110,700 Inglewood Handicap.

Brave Act, rebounding from a subpar effort in the Explosive Bid Handicap at the Louisiana Fair Grounds in New Orleans on March 28, rallied wide under jockey Goncalino Almeida and went on to beat 4-1 second-choice Lord Smith by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:39 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf. Brave Act is unbeaten in three races at the distance and victorious in three of four over the Hollywood Park turf.

According to McAnally, Brave Act--a five-year-old English-bred--suffered a minor injury to his left front ankle when finishing fifth in the Explosive Bid, which was won by Lord Smith.

“The course was terrible [at the Fair Grounds],” said McAnally. “It was at the end of the meeting there and the course was full of holes and just very rough.

“He kind of twisted his ankle and he had a little [swelling] when he came back to California. He’s obviously fine now and he’s something else. He’s special.”

Brave Act has also been special to Almeida, who has been the jockey for his last three stakes victories.

“He’s such a nice horse because he’s got a big heart and he tries hard every time,” said Almeida, a journeyman who rarely gets to ride stakes-caliber horses such as Brave Act. “There was a lot of speed in the race, and with this horse, you can go to the lead or take him back. He’s just a very simple horse to ride. I think this was his best race yet.”

Lord Smith lost his second in a row after winning four consecutive races for trainer Bruce Jackson. He wound up a length in front of Expressionist, then came Such Charisma, Commitisize--the pacesetter through six furlongs at a swift 1:09 4/5--Bouccaneer, Martiniquais and Paxos.

Horse Racing Notes

Fresh off his victory aboard Charismatic in the Preakness on Saturday, jockey Chris Antley rode two winners Sunday. He won the second with Fiamma and the fourth with Middleberg. . . . Jockey Chris McCarron, who suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot last Monday that cost him the mount on Stephen Got Even in the Preakness, could be back riding Sunday, according to his agent Scotty McClellan. . . . Gold Land, an 8-year-old gelding trained by Neil Drysdale who earned more than $800,000, has been retired. The late-running sprinter earned his 12th and final victory in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap last fall at Santa Anita. . . . Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., who took off his final two mounts Saturday, was off again Sunday because of illness. . . . Brave Act has 10 victories from 20 starts and Sunday’s earnings of $66,420 pushed his career total to $724,130. . . . There is a double Pick Six carryover for Wednesday of $638,713.57.