Frankel trainees try softer spot

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Chiming and Pertuisane, entered and scratched from a Hollywood Park turf sprint Wednesday, were entered in a more appropriate spot Friday. The Bobby Frankel trainees are the principal contenders in the seventh-race feature, a one-mile allowance for nonwinners-of-two other-than fillies and mares. First post Friday is 1:40 p.m.; Hollywood resumes night racing next Friday.

Chiming won 2 of 21 starts in Europe, and according to overseas racing commentary she prefers the firm ground she will likely get Friday. Mike Smith will ride the 5-year-old racemare, whose second-place finish behind Dress to Thrill last July in Ireland would make her the one to beat Friday.

Pertuisane has raced fewer times, and finished third in a Grade 1 in her last start in September at Belmont Park. She is 2 for 7 overall, and was beaten two lengths in the Garden City Handicap in her last start. Corey Nakatani will ride. Other starters Friday include Medinaceli, EC Lady, Go on Baby, Cherokee's Disco, and Runaway Pro.

In race 4, a two-other-than sprint, Truckle Feature meets Sunset Place in a six-furlong race with five starters. Truckle Feature finished second in the San Pedro Stakes last time, while Sunset Place returns following a second-place allowance effort. Graded stakes winner Fonz's, and comebackers Taste of Paradise and Vito Corleone complete the field.

Sarafan to pass Inglewood

Grade 1 winner Sarafan will skip the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park, hardly surprising considering his abbreviated workout pattern since returning from Hong Kong. Sarafan was assigned high weight of 122 pounds for the 1 1/16-mile turf race, but trainer Neil Drysdale told track officials Sarafan would not run. Instead, Blue Steller will be the 117-pound highweight in a race that more closely resembles a classified allowance than a graded stakes race.

Although 19 turf runners were nominated, Sarafan was the most accomplished. He won the Grade 1 Eddie Read last summer, and recently finished fourth in the Hong Kong Cup and second in the Japan Cup. A field of six to eight is expected in the $100,000 Inglewood. Possible starters include Blue Steller, 117; Freefourinternet, 116; Gondolieri, 116; Touch of the Blues, 116; Cagney, 115; Kela, 114; Truly a Judge, 113; and Leprechaun Kid, 109.

Lucky Sabre ships in for Railbird

Northern California shipper Lucky Sabre arrived at Hollywood late Tuesday night, and faces a tough assignment in Sunday's Grade 3 Railbird Stakes. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is headed by the entry of Buffythecenterfold and Dash for Money.

Other likely starters include Himalayan, Honest Answer, Point Clear, and Lucky Sabre. Lucky Sabre has lost two straight races as the favorite in northern California. She won the $60,000 Vallejo Stakes in mid-February on a wet track at Golden Gate Fields.

* Buoyed by a pick six carryover of $171,685 at Hollywood Park, bettors wagered $957,840 into the pick six Wednesday. In race 3, the first leg of the sequence, Nicole's Apollo scored an $18.20 upset while 3-5 favorite Smokindowntheroad had a tough trip and finished fourth.