Multitasker tries turf, older rivals

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The seventh race at Hollywood Park on Friday evening will present the 3-year-old filly Multitasker with class and surface tests.

Gone are the claiming races for 3-year-olds, replaced by her turf debut against older females. To the comfort of owners Deanne and Craig Warren and trainer Gary Sherlock, Multitasker faces statebreds, and not a tough field.

Still, Sherlock would have preferred a claiming race for 3-year-old fillies.

"You can't get any races to fill for $40,000 or $50,000 3-year-olds," he said.

Multitasker has not started since winning a $40,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies over six furlongs on May 22. She had three rivals that day.

Claimed for $40,000 from a maiden race for statebreds at Santa Anita in February, Multitasker has been first or second in four subsequent starts. In each race, she has been near the front, a style that Sherlock said will not change Friday.

"I'm going to be in front," he said. "She's very fast. I'm not going to waste her."

Multitasker will be ridden by apprentice jockey Christian Santiago Reyes, who claims a seven-pound allowance. The reduction means that Multitasker will carry 109 pounds.

"She's in a tough spot, so the weight has to help a little bit," Sherlock said.

The move to turf is not a major concern, Sherlock says. The filly is by Bertrando out of a Storm Cat mare.

"She should like it pretty well," he said.

Multitasker has two rivals with wins on turf - Chaw Fire and Dotsy Jean - and both figure to be well-respected in the betting.

Chaw Fire won a five-furlong starter allowance on turf at Bay Meadows last summer in her debut on the surface. Trained by Greg Gilchrist, Chaw Fire, 4, has not started since finishing 11th in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields last October.

Dotsy Jean, who drew the rail, has won two of her last four starts - a $16,000 claimer on the main track at Santa Anita in March and a six-furlong turf race for $40,000 claimers here on May 17. Trained by Marty Jones, Dotsy Jean can lead or stalk the pace. She has won 5 of 21 starts, mostly in claiming races.

Dotsy Jean will be ridden by Joel Rosario. Rosario leads the jockey standings as the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting nears its conclusion on Sunday.