'Icee' drops down, Jazz Ya moves up

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Icee Cheaspeake drops following one bad race. Jazz Ya moves up following one good race. They meet Friday night at Hollywood Park in the seventh-race feature, and the question is whether one race makes a career.

Six California-bred fillies and mares race 1 1/16 miles on turf in the one-other-than/optional $40,000 claiming race, including late runners Flying Heart, Buttertart, and Thermostatic. And as to the significance of a single race, seventh-race participant Bimbo's Kiss proves that it does not have any. She won her debut on June 14, 1998, at Hollywood and has lost 41 consecutive races since.

Jazz Ya's career may as well be one race, because she did little of consequence in her first five starts. The 3-year-old filly was transferred from trainer Juan Garcia to Jeff Mullins after the Del Mar meet, however, and she found her niche running long on turf. Mullins stretched her out to two turns in a Cal-bred maiden race on Oct. 17. Jazz Ya shot to the lead, opened up on a fast pace, and was strong to the wire.

She won by three lengths with pace and speed figures that make her the one to catch Friday. Ryan Fogelsonger rides the filly, whose chance depends on how much pace pressure is applied by her main foe.

That is Icee Cheaspeake, whose 4-for-12 record compares favorably to the rest of the field's combined five wins. She also likes the course.

"She usually runs pretty good on the grass here," trainer Marty Jones said, referring to her 2-for-3 Hollywood turf course record.

Icee Cheaspeake was claimed from Jones for $40,000 in July, but Jones really did not want to lose her.

When she ran back for a tag two starts later, Jones offered the filly's original owners the chance to re-claim the filly, but Mary and Paul Nicoletti passed. "They're the breeders, so they are along for the ride," Jones said, referring to the California breeders' incentive

program. Jones claimed Icee Cheaspeake for $40,000 for Always Believe Inc.

In her most recent start, Icee Cheaspeake finished sixth of nine in a $62,500 claiming race against open company. She stretches out Friday night and drops significantly in class. Jose Valdivia rides Icee Cheaspeake, who is likely to be positioned right behind Jazz Ya.

If Jazz Ya is allowed an easy lead, she could be long gone. If she cannot stay, then Icee Cheaspeake would likely inherit the lead in the stretch.