Lazy Slusan Rushing for Gold

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 25, 2001) - A surprising appearance by Grade I winner Lazy Slusan and a showdown between northern California stakes winners Hoovergetthekeys and Takin It Deep in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes highlight Saturday's Gold Rush Day II card at Hollywood Park.

The 10-race card, worth $1.25 million for California-breds, drew 107 entries Wednesday. The range was 17 entries for the maiden colts and geldings race to six for the $150,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Three of the races drew fields of 12, including the Snow Chief, run at 1 1/8 miles for 3 year olds.

The most unexpected entrant was Lazy Slusan, the daughter of Slewvescent bred by the Robert H. Walter Family Trust, who won the Grade I Santa Margarita and was third in the Grade I Apple Blossom. She was believed headed to Chicago for Sunday's $300,000 Sixty Sails, but was entered in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes at seven furlongs.

Although only seven were entered, that race already figured to be hotly contested, with stakes winners Cover Gal (a Del Mar Sales grad by Falstaff, bred by Ron Gomez), Image of Glory (by Skywalker, bred by Harris Farms) and Wired to Fly (by Flying Victor, bred by Lindon Farms), who won the Melair Stakes on last year's Gold Rush card.

Lazy Slusan, the 1999 Cal Cup Distaff champion, has 10 wins in 42 career starts for earnings of $786,430, but she has won only once in nine races at Hollywood Park.

Hoovergetthekeys, a son of Bertrando bred by Pam and Marty Wygod, won the Golden Gate and El Camino Real Derbies before finishing a dull seventh in the Lone Star Derby. Takin It Deep, a son of Beau Genius bred by Billingsley Creek Ranch, is wheeling back two weeks after an upset win in the California Derby.

The only other stakes winner in the Snow Chief field is Mr. Joe C, a son of Present Value bred by Cumbari Stables, who broke his maiden winning the Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex last September but has not won a race since. Among other contenders are Cherokee Kim (by by Cherokee Colony bred by Anthony and Marian Galanis), fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, and My Two Sons, a son of Beau Genius bred by Jay Bligh shipping in from New York.

Two other winners from last year, Snow Chief Stakes winner Grey Memo (by Memo, bred by Ridgeley Farms) and Khaled Stakes winner Spinelessjellyfish (by Skywalker, bred by Cardiff Farm Management), will hook up with millionaire Native Desert (by Desert Classic, bred by Fred Watarida) in the $175,000 Khaled Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

In the $100,000 Quicken Tree Stakes, a 1½ mile turf marathon, all eyes will be on Irisheyesareflying, a son of Flying Continental bred by Wes Fitzpatrick. He has been running against the likes of Tiznow and Wooden Phone, but has only one win in 11 turf starts and has never gone this far. He will be tested by the improving Bolchina's Prize, a son of Prized bred by Chuck Winner and Neil Papiano.

The richest race for older fillies and mares is the $175,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Rare Charmer, a daughter of Slewpy bred by owner Nick Cafarchia, is the biggest money earner in the field of seven with $435,216 and her seven wins include the $150,000 Grade II Buena Vista Handicap two starts back. Her biggest challenge could come from California Sires Stakes winner Top of Our Game, a daughter of Steinlen bred by Harris Farm.

Multiple stakes winner and Del Mar Sales grad Warren's Whistle (by Wolf Power bred by Robert Harmon) figures to go favored in the $150,000 Melair Stakes for 3-yer-old fillies. The daughter of Wolf Power has earnings of more than $250,000 and will be facing her rival Comedy Class, a daughter of Avenue of Flags bred by owners John and Betty Mabee.

A field of 10 colts and geldings in the $70,000 Merial Stakes includes Waingarth, a son of Slewpy who was supplemented to the race for $3,500. A full field of 12 fillies and mares is entered in the $70,000 Lakeview Thoroughbred Farms Stakes.