HOLLYWOOD PARK : Zealous Connection Keeps Mayberry in Winner’s Circle

Owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel and trainer Brian Mayberry made it three consecutive Landaluce victories and four in the last five years when Zealous Connection cruised to a seven-length victory over seven of her 2-year-old classmates Saturday.

Nearly two months after she beat $50,000 maidens by four lengths in her first start, the daughter of Unreal Zeal broke well from her inside post under Martin Pedroza, quickly took the lead and kept improving her position.

The 3-1 second choice, she was timed in 1:09 4/5 for the six furlongs but could have gone faster if Pedroza had requested. The Landaluce also has been very good to the jockey; he has ridden the last three Siegel-Mayberry winners.

Medici Bells, off at 17-1 and down from Golden Gate Fields, was second throughout and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Sweet Mama, a 13-1 shot and another filly who had raced in the Bay area.

Dance For Vanny, the even-money favorite, was last early and never threatened. She finished sixth, more than 14 lengths behind the winner.

According to Mayberry, Zealous Connection exists only because of some extraordinary veterinary efforts. Her mother, Inca Connection, broke down while racing as a 2-year-old at Hollywood Park several years ago and wasn’t expected to survive.

“She broke both of her sesamoids, and she was more than a prime candidate for (being destroyed),� said Mayberry, who has 10 victories from 21 2-year-old starters at the meeting. “Through the efforts of some really great work, they saved her, and this is the result. This is (Inca Connection’s) second foal.

“The veterinarians really did a hell of a job, and (we have had) good owners that really went through the pain and the money to make it here. Her mother could really run, and never really got a chance to show it.�

Considering the ease with which Zealous Connection has won both her starts, it is surprising that the Siegels and Mayberry were willing to risk her in a claiming race on May 15.

“You have a bunch of guys (trainers) that claim horses that don’t know what they’re doing,� Mayberry said. “Now that (Bobby) Frankel’s not claiming and (Gary) Jones isn’t claiming, those other guys who are claiming don’t have a clue. So, there’s no problem and you can put that in there . . . a direct quote. You really have to know your customers.

“This filly is certainly the fastest one I’ve her had. I’ve had some very, very fast young horses, but none like her.�

Dance For Vanny had broken her maiden in her first start by seven lengths on June 14.

“She was real hot today,� jockey Eddie Delahoussaye said. “She kicked in the gate. She kicked pretty hard--her back legs. She pushed herself up to the front of the gate. . . . We had to back her up.

“She got shuffled down on the rail, and she never tried at all. When I got (outside), I thought she might kick in--but nothing. She worked fine the other day. You never known about the horses, especially 2-year-olds, but she was pretty upset today.�

Three weeks after her impressive victory in the Princess Stakes, Race The Wild Wind is the 7-5 favorite to repeat in the $217,200 Hollywood Oaks today.

Taking advantage of a trouble-free trip slightly off of the pace, the 3-year-old Sunny’s Halo filly defeated Magical Maiden by nearly two lengths in the Princess.

Chris McCarron will again ride Race The Wild Wind for owners Brandon and Marianne Chase and trainer Ron McAnally as she goes for her fifth victory in eight starts.

Only one of the fillies who chased the favorite in the Princess is back for more. Looie Capote, who was third after setting the pace in the field of five, is 10-1 on the morning line and again will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela.

A loser only once in four starts, Pacific Squall is the 2-1 second choice. Successful in the Honeymoon Handicap on turf last month, the Storm Bird filly returns to the main track, where she is unbeaten in two starts. Kent Desormeaux is her jockey.

The four other entrants in the Grade I race are Alysebelle, the full sister to Alysheba who is the 3-1 third choice; and longshots Changed Tune, Omjii I and Thirst For Peace. All Oaks participants will carry 121 pounds.

Trainers Darrell Vienna and Fred Wilson were fined $300 apiece by the Hollywood Park stewards Saturday for the same medication violation.

Post-race urine samples taken from Kikala, who is trained by Vienna, and McClymonds High, who is trained by Wilson, showed the presence of dexamethosone, which, according to Dr. William Bell, is an anti-inflammatory steroid. Dexamethosone has been around for several years, but it isn’t permitted to show in a post-race test.

Kikala finished second in the race in question on June 18, and McClymonds High won by a nose as a 22-1 longshot on June 20.

Horse Racing Notes

Kent Desormeaux won four times Saturday. He swept the early double with Star Child and Cocoa Lad, then came back with Bullet Points in the fourth and Jet Shuttle in the seventh. . . . Brian Mayberry’s other Landaluce entrant, Blue Moonlight, finished fourth.