Hollywood: Brief stint as owners ends for Laker teammates

Los Angeles Lakers teammates Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant had their first experience as racehorse owners on Sunday, but it only was a brief encounter.

Their gelding, Siempre Mio, finished second by a nose in Sunday’s first race, a $12,500 claimer for sprinters, and was claimed in a six-way shake by Mark Glatt.

Glatt claimed Siempre Mio on behalf of the Donkey Island Racing partnership. NFL quarterback Drew Brees is part or the Donkey Island group.

In April, Bryant outbid Gasol during a charity auction event sponsored by the Lakers, paying $8,000 for a 25 percent share of Siempre Mio.

Gasol later bought a share after speaking with Santa Anita chief executive Mark Verge. Gasol’s portion of the purchase also went to charity.

Siempre Mio made his first start for the basketball players on Sunday.

They were set to own Siempre Mio through the end of the year with partners Verge and Chris Quinn, Santa Anita’s director of marketing, until the claims were placed on Sunday.

Gasol and Bryant did not attend Sunday’s race. Siempre Mio led to deep stretch and was caught by 3-5 Valkryie Missile.

Gasol took a hands-on interest in his acquisition, spending a recent morning at trainer Doug O’Neill’s Hollywood Park stable. Gasol has since bought a share of the maiden My Bashert, who is owned by Verge.