Honeymoon Handicap : Pen Bal Lady a Winner Again on Her New Turf

It hasn’t taken Pen Bal Lady long to decide that she likes life on this side of the Atlantic.

Imported from England earlier this year, the 3-year-old chestnut filly has gone to the post twice in California and has finished first on both occasions.

Her latest victory, her fifth in nine lifetime starts, came Sunday in the $100,000-added Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park. It gave jockey Eddie Delahoussaye his third win of the day and his 23rd of the meeting.

Sent off as the favorite by the crowd of 27,958, Pen Bal Lady covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm but fast-deteriorating turf course in 1:41 1/5 to earn $80,300 for her owners.

Bill Shoemaker brought Some Sensation home second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Pen Bal Lady, while Fernando Toro was third aboard Davie’s Lamb, another three-quarters of a length back. The winner paid $3.40, $2.80 and $2.20; Some Sensation paid $5.80 and $2.80, while Davie’s Lamb paid $2.80.

The field of 10--reduced by one when Chris McCarron’s mount, Hello Sweet Thing was scratched--broke cleanly and was tightly bunched going around the clubhouse turn. Quick Messenger, Joey the Trip and Ideal Change made most of the running on the backstretch before fading.

Delahoussaye, who rode Pen Bal Lady to a comfortable win in the Senorita Stakes on April 25, bided his time until they approached the far turn, then gave Pen Bal Lady her head.

“I moved her before I wanted to because I didn’t want to get hung up on her or strangle her going into that last turn over there,� Delahoussaye said. “She was awful fresh today and she was moving right along.

“So I kind of made a premature move so that I could get over (to the inside). But I don’t think it made a big difference. I had enough confidence in her to do it.

“You can do about what you like with her. She’s a nice horse. She’s genuine.�

Delahoussaye has enjoyed the current meeting and Sunday’s triple helped keep him atop the jockey standings.

“I can’t complain at all,� he said. “I’d have to be crazy. I’ve had a good year so far. I ride for some of the big outfits but I don’t ride for most of them the way few of the top riders do. But I’m not complaining, as long as I’ve been here. If I can keep my head up above water, I’ll be all right.�

One of the things that is obviously not all right at Hollywood Park at the moment--apart from the decreased attendance and handle--is the condition of the turf course. It looks like a badly worn carpet, bare and brown in spots. The plan, apparently, is to give it a few days rest this week by not scheduling any turf races. It will also be reseeded.

“They ought to give it about two weeks off, but I know the trainers wouldn’t go for it,� Delahoussaye said. “But I don’t blame the management for doing it (resting the course) because they have a long meet and they’re trying to save it for the better races later on.

“It’s a shame we don’t have two turf courses with all the European horses we have here now.�

One of those, obviously, is Pen Bal Lady, but trainer Hector Palma said Sunday she might be switched to the dirt.

“There’s no more on the turf for her here,� he said. “We’re going to try the main track. She could go in the Princess (Stakes, June 20) before the July 12 (Hollywood) Oaks.�

Horse Racing Notes

Chris McCarron, who can win the Triple Crown aboard Alysheba with a victory in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, Sunday said he believes the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner can handle the 1 1/2-mile Belmont distance. McCarron said he is unsure, however, how Alysheba will react to running without Lasix, an anti-bleeding medication banned in New York. . . . Sunday’s card did nothing to ease the logjam atop the meeting’s jockey standings as each of the top three riders came home with at least one winner. Eddie Delahoussaye leads the pack with 23 victories, Laffit Pincay is second with 21 and McCarron is third with 18. Apprentice Dave Patton is not far back with 15. . . . Richard Mandella, who saddled his 10th winner of the meeting Sunday, continues to lead the trainer standings. . . . Memorial Day weekend will provide fans with three graded stakes races at Hollywood Park--the $75,000-added Will Rogers Handicap on Saturday, the $100,000-added Grade I Gamely Handicap on Sunday and the $200,000-added Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on Monday. Among those nominated to the Mervyn LeRoy are Snow Chief, Bedside Promise and Nostalgia’s Star.