Breeders' Cup-meant pair get shot

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The fifth race at Hollywood Park on Thursday is something of a consolation for two 2-year-olds that did not start in turf races at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita last month: Bourbon Bay and Atka.

Bourbon Bay, pre-entered for the Juvenile Turf, makes his California debut in the one-mile allowance race on the turf Thursday.

Bourbon Bay was second in the Cradle Stakes at River Downs in September, his final start for trainer Lowell Stevens. Now trained by Neil Drysdale, Bourbon Bay could start in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes here on Nov. 29, depending on Thursday's performance. He has raced exclusively on turf in three career starts.

Bourbon Bay is one of two turf-course winners in Thursday's field. Liturgical won a maiden race on turf in England in June.

Atka was pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf but never made it off the also-eligible list. In the days before the race, she was withdrawn from consideration for that race after wrenching her back when she became cast in her stall at Hollywood Park.

Atka missed a few days of training in late October but was back to work for owner-trainer Mike Harrington last week. She worked five furlongs on turf last Thursday.

"She had a nice work the other day," Harrington said.

Harrington said Atka's stall injury "was nothing major."

"She had to scratch," he said. "If she had gotten in, I couldn't have run her."

Atka, the only filly in Thursday's optional claimer, won her career debut in April but has lost her last six starts, all in stakes in California. Atka placed in two stakes earlier this year.

Thursday's race will be her first start against males and first start on turf.

"I'm happy with her season," Harrington said. "The only reason I'm making this big leap is because I think she'll move up on the turf. That's my objective. I'm not totally nuts, I just look like I'm nuts."

Harrington said Atka could start in the $100,000 Miesque Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Nov. 28 if she runs well Thursday.

The field of 10 includes two other stakes-placed runners - Aquicksting, who was second in the Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 19, and Quindici Man, who was second in stakes at Ruidoso Downs and The Downs at Albuquerque in September. Quindici Man is making his turf debut and first start beyond seven furlongs.