Kanan Dume back from 18-month break

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Kanan Dume is the only horse in Friday's eighth race at Hollywood Park with experience in a Grade 1 stakes. The problem is that race was a sixth in the Del Mar Futurity way back in September 2007, the gelding's most recent start.

Whether that will translate into success in a $48,000 allowance race at six furlongs on Friday is uncertain.

"It's taken him a long time, so who knows?" trainer Richard Mandella said. "He's trained pretty good."

Bone chips in two ankles sidelined Kanan Dume in the last 18 months, with both injuries requiring surgery.

"He chipped an ankle and came back and chipped another," Mandella said.

Owned by breeder B. Wayne Hughes, Kanan Dume won his first start in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in July 2007 by a neck, always racing near the front. He was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Georgie Boy in the Del Mar Futurity.

Kanan Dume is part of a six-horse field in Friday's feature, a racing program that begins at 7:05 p.m.

He faces a field that includes two horses that won their last start - the claimer Mossad and the allowance-class runner River Echo.

Mossad has won 2 of 4 starts for trainer Mike Puype, including 2 of 3 starts this year. Mossad won a starter allowance for claimers at Santa Anita on March 8.

"I was hoping we could take a chance on a Friday night and get a short field," Puype said. "It's a good little spot."

Mossad will be ridden by Jesus Rios, who is in his first season riding in Southern California and has impressed Puype.

"I've seen him in a few rides and I have a hunch he's got a good chance to go forward," Puype said.

River Echo has won 3 of 16 starts for trainer Marty Jones. A 5-year-old gelding, River Echo ended a seven-race losing streak with a victory in an allowance race for California-breds going six furlongs at Santa Anita on April 2.

"He seemed to take his race very good," Jones said. "He's always been a horse that tries."

River Echo was nominated for Saturday's Tiznow Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs, but Jones opted for Friday's shorter race.

"I think that's a little far for him," Jones said. "He's straight out of the mold of a come-from-behind sprinter."