Bills Paid due for best

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A potential rainstorm on Friday night should not keep Bills Paid from giving a top effort in the seventh race at Hollywood Park.

The race is scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, but a storm could force a shift to the main track. Bills Paid is proven over either surface.

A 4-year-old, Bills Paid finished third in the San Miguel Stakes and Baldwin Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita in 2001. The San Miguel was run on a fast track and the Baldwin was run over a sloppy track after the race was moved from the turf.

Later in his 3-year-old season, Bills Paid finished second in the Harry Henson Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Trained by Ruben Cardenas, Bills Paid is making his third start following a layoff. Friday's seventh race is a $46,000 optional claimer that drew eight runners.

Bills Paid finished first in an optional claimer at Fairplex Park on Sept. 15 in his comeback and then was fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in a similar race on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 16.

The Oct. 16 race included El Curioso, who is in Friday's field. Trained by Darrell Vienna, El Curioso has had mixed results this year.

Although he is winless in 10 starts this year, he was a game second in the Governor's Cup Handicap at Fairplex Park in September. El Curioso was second by a nose in an optional claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf over this track last November. On Oct. 16, El Curioso finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

Joopy Doopy and Kolinor start as an entry because both are owned in partnership by Plan B Stable. On Oct. 26, Plan B Stable and partners claimed Kolinor through trainer Mark Glatt following a third-place finish in a hillside sprint.

The race features two South American imports. Teebar, an Australian-bred, starts for trainer Brian Lynch. Fast River, a Chilean-bred, makes his U.S. debut for trainer Laura de Seroux.

The field also includes Lebontempsroulet, who was fourth in an allowance race on the hillside turf course on Oct. 17, and Slew of the Night, a stakes winner at Emerald Downs in Washington earlier this year.

Friday's eight-race program is the first of two Friday night programs at the fall meet. There will be Friday night racing on Nov. 15. Beginning Nov. 22, post time will be 12:30 p.m on Fridays.

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