Hollywood Park: Milestone wins for Gomez, Hess

Trainer Bob Hess Jr., and jockey Garrett Gomez reached milestones with the win by So Tempted ($10.40) in Sunday’s first race at Hollywood Park. Hess, 46, won the 1,000th race of his career, while Gomez, 39, won his 500th race at Hollywood Park.

Blacker wins first race, loses winner on claim

Trainer Dan Blacker won the first race of his career with the $25,000 claimer Hameildaeme in Sunday’s fourth race at Hollywood Park. But when the filly was claimed, Blacker’s stable shrunk from five runners to four.

Blacker, 29, was formerly an assistant to Richard Mandella and Tom Albertrani. He went out on his own earlier this fall. Hameildaeme was his fourth starter.

“It’s such a relief,” he said of the win. “I’ve come up under the best guys in the business. It’s nice to have it pay off.”

At the same time, Blacker said he was frustrated that Hameildaeme was claimed. He said that owner Jim Ford intended to retire the 5-year-old mare and breed her in 2012.

“That was going to be her last start,” he said.

She was claimed by Dean Greenman.

Hameildaeme was formerly trained by Jamie Lloyd, who left training earlier this fall to move to his native England. Lloyd plans to focus on his bloodstock agency. A few of Blacker’s horses were previously trained by Lloyd.

Santa Anita's barns need extensive repairs

Repairs to the Santa Anita barn area following an early December wind storm will take months, track president George Haines told the California Horse Racing Board last week.

But Haines said that the repair work will not interfere with the opening of the winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.

Haines said that 100 trees were lost to the storm and that three barns had collapsed exterior walls. He said that Dec. 1 storm produced winds of up to 100 miles per hour.

“We got the damage cleaned up and we’re undergoing repairs,” he told the racing board. “That will probably take months on the roofs. We’re following procedures and getting quotes from a roofing company.

“The facility is safe and will be up and running to 100 percent capacity on Dec. 26.”