Sailors Sunset confirms fondness for synthetic

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sailors Sunset has proven to be unbeatable on Hollywood Park's synthetic track, and he is winning the right kind of races.

Saturday, Sailors Sunset won his first stakes of 2007 in the $105,800 Los Angeles Handicap. Last December, Sailors Sunset pulled an upset in the Grade 3 Vernon Underwood Stakes on the synthetic track.

Both races unfolded in the same style. Sailors Sunset took an early lead and was not caught. But his win in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap was not easy.

Ridden by Jon Court, Sailors Sunset was challenged through the stretch by 4-5 Peace Chant, who drew alongside with a furlong remaining and briefly led. Sailors Sunset raced on the rail, a favorable part of the track this meeting, and pulled away in the final sixteenth to win by a half-length.

Sailors Sunset ($10.40) ran six furlongs in 1:09.03 after setting early fractions of 21.94 and 44.30 seconds.

Peace Chant was second throughout, and finished a length in front of Northern Soldier. Ramsgate and Turnbolt completed the order of finish. Corazondelcampeon was scratched early on Saturday.

Sailors Sunset has won 6 of 17 starts and $308,090 for Everest Stables and trainer Marcelo Polanco.

Peace Chant was ridden by Richard Migliore, a late replacement for Victor Espinoza. Espinoza was removed from the mount after failing to report to the jockeys' room in sufficient time. He arrived less than 30 minutes before the Los Angeles Handicap, track stewards said.