Hot rider scores first Grade 1 victory in Hollywood Gold Cup on Early Pioneer

Jockey Victor Espinoza felt such unbridled confidence in Early Pioneer's chances in the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on July 9 that he dyed his hair orange-gold a week earlier. The gold was for the Gold Cup; the orange for the orange-and-white-checked silks of owners David and Holly Wilson, who own the Orange of Toyota auto dealership in Orange County, California

Hollywood Gold Cup S. (G1)
Hollywood Park, July 9, $1,000,000, 11/4 miles, fast, 2:01.40
1-EARLY PIONEER, g. 5, Rahy-Golden Darling, by Slew o' Gold.
2-General Challenge, g. 4, General Meeting-Excellent Lady, by Smarten.
3-David, c. 4, Mt. Livermore-Fateful Beauty, by Turkoman..

Espinoza's enthusiasm translated into one of the biggest upsets in the 61-year history of the Gold Cup and the first Grade 1 victories for the rider, the Wilsons, and trainer Vladimir Cerin.

Early Pioneer was sent off as the longest shot in a field of nine at 24.50-to-1. The $51 win mutuel was the second-highest in the history of the race, second only to Marquetry's $56.80 in 1991.

Espinoza, riding Early Pioneer for the first time, settled the five-year-old in fifth place down the backstretch, followed favored General Challenge around the far turn, and outfinished the 7-to-5 favorite for a length victory in 2:01.40 for 1 1/4 miles. David, who set much of the pace, finished a game third, another 1 1/2 lengths back.

Out Of Mind (Brz) rallied from last to finish fourth, 11Ú4 lengths behind David and a head in front of Cat Thief. English invader Blueprint (Ire) was sixth, followed in order by Chester House, Big Ten (Chi), and Pleasant Breeze. Cerin, a Yugoslavian-born former UCLA soccer player, claimed Early Pioneer from Golden Eagle Farm for $62,500 on October 25, 1998, during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita on Wilson's recommendation.

"I told Mr. Wilson I didn't think it was a very good claim," said Cerin. "Early Pioneer is 100% sound, but he has unusual-looking ankles."

Early Pioneer, a five-year-old gelding by Rahy out of the Slew o' Gold mare Golden Darling, more than doubled his earnings to $1,106,815 with his ninth victory in 31 starts. After a victory in the San Bernardino Handicap (G2) on April 9 at Santa Anita Park over David and General Challenge, Cerin pointed Early Pioneer for this race.

Espinoza, a 28-year-old native of Mexico City, proved why he is the leading rider at this meet, 49-to-43 over Corey Nakatani.

"When Victor first started riding here (in 1995), I thought he was a Northern California rider who should have stayed there," said Cerin. "But then this spring, I showed my wife a tape of one of his races. He is an excellent judge of pace and has a knack for seeing holes developing."

Espinoza worked Early Pioneer once before the race. "He was very lazy; he's not a good work horse. He's smart. He saves it for the afternoon," said Espinoza.

General Challenge was making his first start since undergoing surgery for an entrapped epiglottis and throat ulcer after the San Bernardino. "He was just lacking that one race, but he tried to fight back," said trainer Bob Baffert. "The horse is back."

Birthday consolation

Honest Lady gave Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel a dazzling consolation gift on his 59th birthday with a convincing victory in the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap (G2) for fillies and mares.

A Gleam H. (G2)
Hollywood Park, July 9, $200,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:21.47
1-HONEST LADY, f. 4, Seattle Slew-Toussaud, by El Gran Senor.
2-Seth's Choice, f. 4, Rahy-Tammy Lynn, by Fappiano.
3-Hookedonthefeelin, f. 4, Citidancer-Prospective Joy, by Allen's Prospect.

Last in a field of five at the far turn, Honest Lady unleashed a powerful finish along the rail under Kent Desormeaux to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:21.47 for seven furlongs as the 7-to-10 favorite. Seth's Choice finished second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Hookedonthefeelin.

Honest Lady, a Juddmonte Farms homebred by Seattle Slew out of Toussaud, by El Gran Senor, scored her sixth victory in 12 starts and raised her earnings to $679,168.

"This distance or a mile is probably best for her," said Frankel, who said she will run next in the $250,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1) at seven furlongs on August 20 at Saratoga.

Elaborate's Triple Bend

Espinoza capped the biggest day of his career by applying his magic to Elaborate later on the Gold Cup undercard. Riding the five-year-old son of Gilded Time for the first time, Espinoza rallied Elaborate to a 10.20-to-1 upset victory in the $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap (G2), covering seven furlongs in 1:21.19.

Triple Bend Breeders' Cup Invitational H. (G2)
Hollywood Park, July 9, $298,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:21.19
1-ELABORATE, h. 5, Gilded Time-Jeanie's Gift, by Gulch.
2-Cliquot, g. 4, Bertrando-Pharapache, by Lyphard.
3-Lexicon, h. 5, Conquistador Cielo-Felidia (Ire), by Golden Fleece.

Cliquot finished second, 2 1/4 lengths back and a nose in front of early pacesetter Lexicon. Big Jag, the 1.40-to-1 favorite, never threatened and finished seventh.

Elaborate, scoring the biggest victory of his career, had been winless in five races this year. Trained by Juan "Paco" Gonzalez for owners-breeders John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, Elaborate won for the fifth time in 12 starts and nearly doubled his earnings to $401,684.

"I've never had a day like this," said Espinoza.

Challenged sister

Notable Career, a three-quarter sister to General Challenge, took the stage on July 8 and did not disappoint, winning the $108,400 Landaluce Stakes (G3) for two-year-old fillies by four lengths as the 1-to-2 favorite.

Landaluce S. (G3)
Hollywood Park, July 8, $108,400, 6 furlongs, fast, 1:11.10
1-NOTABLE CAREER, f. 2, Avenue of Flags-Excellent Lady, by Smarten.
2-Sea Reel, f. 2, Sea Hero-Reel Special Belle, by Reel On Reel.
3-Starrer, f. 2, Dynaformer-To the Hunt, by Relaunch.

"Like General Challenge, she's gangly with a big, long, smooth stride," trainer Bob Baffert said of the Golden Eagle Farm homebred. "But she's a little smarter than he is. You know, the girls are always smarter than the boys." Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Notable Career took the lead shortly after the start from the number one post and went on to cover six furlongs in 1:11.10 on a fast track. Sea Reel finished second, one length in front of Starrer, who was a nose ahead of Euro Empire.

"It's pretty tough to win from the inside," Nakatani said. "She's like Silverbulletday, and I believe she's going to be very tough in the longer races."

Notable Career, a California-bred by Avenue of Flags out of the Smarten mare Excellent Lady, recorded her second victory in three outings. The $65,040 winner's share of the Landaluce pushed her career earnings to $108,040. She will likely make her next start in the restricted, $125,000-added C.T.B.A. Stakes at Del Mar on July 28.

American invasion

You could almost see flags waving and hear John Philip Sousa music in the background when the $150,000 American Handicap (G2) was run for the 61st time as the Fourth of July feature. But for the ninth straight year, the result was positively "un-American."

American H. (G2)
Hollywood Park, July 4, $150,000, 11/8 miles, turf, firm, 1:46.74
1-DARK MOONDANCER (GB), h. 5, Anshan (GB)-=Oh So Well (Ire), by Sadler's Wells.
2-Sardaukar (GB), c. 4, Royal Academy-=En Public (Fr), by Rainbow Quest.
3-Sunshine Street, h. 5, Sunshine Forever-Meadow Spirit, by Chief's Crown.

Dark Moondancer (GB) became the ninth straight winner of the race to have begun his racing career in Europe.

Dark Moondancer, who was pulled up after he bobbled in the chute as the 9-to-10 favorite in the Charles Whittingham Handicap (G1) on Memorial Day, removed all doubts about his complete recovery with a convincing 11Ú2-length victory in 1:46.74 for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf under jockey Chris McCarron.

Sardaukar (GB) rallied from last to finish second, a neck in front of Sunshine Street. Falcon Flight (Fr) was fourth, followed in order by Martiniquais (Ire) and defending champion Takarian (Ire).

Dark Moondancer, the 1.90-to-1 favorite, rallied from just off the pace under high weight of 122 pounds. The five-year-old horse recorded his tenth victory in 20 starts and raised his earnings to $728,393.

Steve Schuelein is a Southern California correspondent for Thoroughbred Times.