Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale confirmed Friday that Green Lyons would make her next start in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 26. The Grade I test for fillies and mares will be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Green Lyons, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, will make her third start in the United States after beginning her career in France, where she was a listed stakes winner last year for trainer Christiane Head-Maarek.
Green Lyons, owned and bred by Castleton Lyons, joined the Drysdale stable at the end of last year and made her first stateside start with a victory in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on the Santa Anita turf April 10. She returned to finish a closing third in a three-horse photo finish in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on the grass here May 4.
"She's a talented filly, and I was happy with the way she ran in her last race," said Drysdale of his decision to come back in the Gamely. "She will work again Sunday. I haven't decided on a jockey."
Green Lyons, a daughter of Green Desert, will seek to give Drysdale a fourth Gamely victory, joining Hail Hilarious in 1977 and champions Hollywood Wildcat in 1994 and Fiji in 1998.
Green Lyons will have her work cut out in a lineup expected to include Grade I stakes winners Precious Kitten and Rutherienne, both scheduled to be flown here next week from New York. Other probable starters are Costume, Diamond Diva and Lavender Sky.
MANDELLA, ESPINOZA SEEK SHOEMAKER REPEAT
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Victor Espinoza, who guided The Tin Man to victory in the Shoemaker Mile at the age of nine last year, seek another victory in the $250,000, Grade I test on May 26 with a mere 6-year-old, El Roblar.
Like The Tin Man, El Roblar has come back from several long layoffs during his career and is well preserved with only 14 starts. His last was a game victory in the Grade III Inglewood Handicap under Espinoza hereMay 3, where he is unbeaten in three outings.
Owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable, El Roblar is a son of 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant. El Roblar means "The Oak" in Spanish.
Mandella seeks his third Shoemaker victory in six years with a veteran performer. Redattore won the race at eight in 2003.
A field of at least eight is probable: El Roblar (Espinoza), Hollywood Derby and Arcadia Handicap winner Daytona (Alex Solis), Kilroe Mile winner Ever a Friend (Tyler Baze), 2007 Shoemaker runner-up Get Funky (Michael Baze), Arcadia runner-up Hyperbaric (Rafael Bejarano), Maryland shipper and Commonwealth Stakes winner Rebellion (Edgar Prado) and the Bobby Frankel-trained duo of Mast Track and Thousand Words.
LANDALUCE NEXT FOR COSMIC QUEEN
Trainer Christopher Paasch was in an understandably upbeat mood Friday after sending out Cosmic Queen to a victory in track-record time in her debut Thursday. The filly won a $48,000 maiden race under Mike Smith in 50.72 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs, bettering the Cushion Track standard of 50.84 set by Cat Dreamer May 8.
"To break slow and run like that was pretty impressive," said Paasch after the 2 ½-length victory. "I knew she was a nice filly. After the horrible year we had last year, this was sure a good pick-me-up."
The victory also served as a good pick-me-up for Hall of Fame jockey Smith on his first mount since being shaken up in a spill here Saturday.
Cosmic Queen, a Kentucky-bred chestnut by Stormy Atlantic, was a $320,000 purchase at the February Fasig Tipton Sale by Charles Cono of San Diego, Paasch's top client.
"I try not to look at the catalog," said Paasch of his auction philosophy. "I never buy a horse off pedigree. I buy the horse as an individual."
Paasch said the stable comeback is hinged to his 2-year-old contingent, which numbers 16. "I'd say after setting the track record first time out, Cosmic Queen compares pretty good with that group," said Paasch with a chuckle.
Paasch said the filly would probably make her next start in the $100,000-added Landaluce Stakes, the meet championship for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs June 28.
TRAINER SOLIS BUSY IN 2-YEAR-OLD STAKES
Trainer Walther Solis said Friday he planned to run at least two nominees in the $75,000-added Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes for 2-year-olds and one in the $75,000-added Cinderella Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on May 25. Both stakes are at 5 ½ furlongs.
Solis said he would probably enter geldings Making Dreams with Paul Atkinson and Conclusive with Jose Valdivia Jr. in the Proctor, and Got Tobe Rio with Atkinson in the Cinderella. All three come off two-furlong maiden victories at Santa Anita in April.
A pair of Proctor nominees coming off impressive efforts here for trainer Adam Kitchingman have been sold and transferred to other trainers. Cat Dreamer, a colt coming off a 3 ¾-length victory in 50.84 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs May 8, was sold to Gary Broad and transferred to trainer Ron Ellis. Seisometer, a gelding disqualified for interference after crossing the wire first in :51.45 for the same distance April 23, was sold to Al and Sandee Kirkwood and transferred to conditioner Tim Yakteen.
FINISH LINES - Mr. Wolverine, winner of the Khaled Stakes in his last start April 27, will probably return in the $300,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at 1¼ miles on turf June 7, trainer Jorge Gutierrez said Friday. The Grade I test is also expected to attract Lava Man, Artiste Royal and Champs d'Elysees…Magnificience, a 4-year-old filly who was magnificent winning her first two starts by a total of 11½ lengths for trainer Bruce Headley in 2007 before going to the sidelines with an injury, will make her first start in more than 13 months Sunday in the third race, a $54,000 allowance event for fillies and mares at 6½ furlongs. David Flores will ride the chestnut daughter of Stormy Atlantic for the first time. Magnificience blew out four furlongs in a bullet :44.80 at Santa Anita Monday….Fran's Valentine winner Tutta Bella breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer John Sadler.
