Olmodavor wins Native Diver

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Olmodavor ended his 2003 campaign with a win in Saturday's $100,000 at Hollywood Park that will earn him a place in the important handicaps of 2004.

The victory gave trainer Richard Mandella a record seventh win in the Grade 3 Native Diver.

Winning his first stakes, Olmodavor rallied from last of five to catch an unlucky Nose the Trade in the final sixteenth to win by a half-length. He was last in early stretch and did not respond to jockey Alex Solis's urging until the final furlong.

"It got me a little nervous, but at the eighth pole I switched my stick to the left hand and he took off," Solis said.

Sent off as the favorite, Olmodavor ($4.40) ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.16.

Nose the Trade finished 1 1-2 lengths in front of Chinkapin, who was followed by Legendary Weave and Total Impact. Buckland Manor, Gift of the Eagle, and Tenaja Trail were raceday scratches.

Olmodavor, who has won 4 of 9 starts and $339,540 for Wertheimer Farm, was second in the Strub Stakes and New Orleans Handicap last winter before being sidelined with an ankle injury. The Native Diver Handicap was the second race of Olmodavor's comeback.

*Lady Annaliese ($5) won her first stakes in the $68,250 Hermosa Beach Handicap for fillies and mares over 1 1-2 miles on turf. Ridden by Solis for trainer Bobby Frankel, Lady Annaliese stalked pacesetter Go on Baby to the eighth pole and pulled clear to win by 2 1-2 lengths in 2:27.07.

Go on Baby finished second, two lengths clear of 28-1 Sunday Whisper in the field of 10.