Great expectations for Osidy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Osidy left owner B. Wayne Hughes and trainer Richard Mandella looking forward to the lucrative turf stakes available for 3-year-olds when he ran second in the Harry Henson Stakes on April 22.

A late rally in the Henson, a turf sprint, hinted that Osidy could develop into a contender for important races such as the $400,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 5. His first objective is Saturday's $100,000 Will Rogers Stakes over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park.

"I'm expecting big stuff," Mandella said.

made his U.S. debut in the Henson. After a poor start, Osidy rallied from last, making up more than seven lengths in the stretch before finishing second to Juliesugardaddy, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Mandella briefly thought Osidy's rally would carry him to the front.

"I thought he had a chance," Mandella said. "He ran very good."

Stakes-placed in France last year, Osidy made his first start since October in the Henson. Osidy sustained a foot injury last fall, which required a lengthy layoff when he arrived in California.

"I guess he hurt it in his stall," Mandella said. "We had to cut a big piece of foot away. It took a while to grow back."

The Henson has turned out to be a productive race. returned to win a one-mile allowance race on turf here on May 7 and is a top contender in the Will Rogers. Ridden by Alex Bisono, Juliesugardaddy will be trying to win his fourth consecutive start.

The field for the Grade 3 Will Rogers also includes , the champion statebred 2-year-old male of 2004; the minor stakes winner Claymont; and Eastern Sand, Sunny Sky, and Talking to John, who have placed in stakes.

Juliesugardaddy is likely to stalk a pace set by Moth Ball. Winless in three starts in this country, Moth Ball was gelded after a fifth-place finish in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on April 8.

"We gelded him after he tried to kill us for the third time," trainer Jim Cassidy said.

Moth Ball led into the stretch of the Crown Royal American Turf over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 6, but finished eighth, losing by 3 1/2 lengths to Rey de Cafe.

The shorter trip in the Will Rogers will work to Moth Ball's advantage, Cassidy said.

"That course is a little deeper than our putting greens," he said, comparing the Churchill Downs course with the shorter grass on Southern California courses. "I wasn't disappointed with the run."