Hollywood Park notes: Wilkinson won’t defend title in American

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There are three notable absences from Saturday's American Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park: Defending champion Wilkinson, the multiple stakes winner Jeranimo, and Indy Point, the winner of the 2012 Argentine Derby.

Wilkinson an optional claimer on May 2. Trainer Jeff Mullins said on Wednesday that Wilkinson is being pointed for the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on June 29.

“I didn’t want to run him back that quick,” Mullins said. “We’ll point for the Shoemaker. He’s doing okay.”

Jeranimo, who won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita in January, was last of seven in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4, and remains a candidate for the Shoemaker, trainer Mike Pender said earlier this month.

Indy Point was scheduled to make his United States debut in the American until he spiked a temperature earlier this week, trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday.

“We’ll have to put it off,” Mandella said of Indy Point’s next start.

Indy Point, 4, has won 5 of 12 starts and $502,481. The winner of four group stakes in Argentina last year, Indy Point was second in the Group 1 Carlos Pellegrini Stakes in Argentina last December in his most recent race.

First start for $210K buy

Randino, a Discreet Cat colt purchased for $210,000 at the Barretts March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training in March, makes his career debut in a maiden race for 2-year-olds over 4 1/2 furlongs in Friday’s first race.

Trained by Peter Miller for the partnership of Brewer Racing, David Lanzman, Rockingham Ranch, and Jason Wood, Randino is part of a field of six. Randino has shown a consistent work pattern in the last six weeks, and will need a top effort to beat Alpine Luck, Raise the Hoof and Willie B Awesome, who were third through fifth in a maiden special race on May 9.

Willie B Awesome, a full brother to 2012 Santa Anita Oaks winner Willa B Awesome, had a rough trip on May 9, racing in traffic but recovering to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind race winner Street Icon.