HOLLYWOOD PARK : Argolid Saves His Best Move for On Trust

Even though it wasn’t particularly successful, a recent trip to Kentucky paid off Saturday for owner Mike Pegram, trainer Bob Baffert and Argolid.

A fourth-place finish in the Ack Ack Handicap taught Baffert something about Argolid, a gelding who has tended to promise more than he has delivered in his career.

“I realized this horse has one move,� Baffert said. “He made this huge move like he was going to win [at Churchill Downs after a poor start], but then just flattened out in the stretch.�

Baffert gave jockey Corey Nakatani appropriate instructions Saturday and the 4-year-old son of Saros responded with a one-length victory in the $111,600 On Trust Handicap.

Closest to pacesetter Desert Pirate throughout, the nearly 9-1 shot wore that one down in the final sixteenth to win in 1:28 for the 7 1/2 furlongs.

Turns out Argolid would have won the top prize in the On Trust even had he not gone past the runner-up. Desert Pirate was disqualified and placed fifth for interfering with Goldigger’s Dream, who was moved up to second, and Geenger Man, who was moved up to fourth, at the start.

Purchased by Pegram and Baffert after his first start in 1993, Argolid’s victory Saturday was his fifth and moved his earnings to $285,907.

“He’s starting to fill out with age,� Baffert said. “When I first bought him, he was sort of a puny, little horse. Now, he’s just starting to fill out and look good.

“He’s just been training awesome. Finally, everything has just worked out. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my staff and [jockey] David Flores, who works him in the morning--he does a good job with him.�

Nakatani has certainly gotten along well with Argolid. He has three victories in his last four engagements with the California-bred.

“He seems to relax for me and run well,� Nakatani said. “I knew he was training well for this. He worked a little faster than you might want him to [1:10 4/5 on Nov. 22 at Santa Anita], but that was an indication that he was doing well.�

Kingdom Found, the 2-1 favorite, finished sixth. He had a relatively favorable trip despite breaking from the rail, but made no impact late.

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The last time Urbane was seen in California, she was losing three consecutive tough decisions to Serena’s Song.

The series of near misses began with a nose loss in the 1993 Hollywood Starlet, then came a third-place finish in the Las Virgenes when Urbane was in tight along the inside through the stretch, then a head loss in the Santa Anita Oaks when owner Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel’s filly dropped too far back of a slow pace.

Almost nine months later, Urbane is back home. In between, she spent time on the shelf, changed trainers, moving to Randy Bradshaw’s barn, and won two of three races.

In her return to action, she won the Maryland Million Oaks by eight lengths on Oct. 14, but now the competition gets tougher.

She won’t be taking on Serena’s Song in the $100,000 Bayakoa Handicap today at Hollywood Park, but rather the Ron Ellis-trained duo of Twice The Vice and Pirate’s Revenge.

To be ridden by Nakatani, who will be aboard for the second time, Urbane is the 8-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa. Twice The Vice and Pirate’s Revenge, who will race coupled as the Martin and Pam Wygod-owned entry, are 9-5.

Never worse than third in eight career races, which includes four victories, Urbane worked four furlongs in 47 Wednesday morning in her final prep for the Bayakoa.

“It couldn’t have been any better,� Bradshaw said. “If she gets beat [today], it’ll be because she gets outrun by a better horse, not because she isn’t doing well.

“It’s a tough race. You almost feel like you should be running for $200,000.�

The rest of the field includes Klassy Kim, who figures to be in front after winning the California Cup Distaff last month, Golden Klair, who was well-beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Ashtabula and British Bauble. Fancy ‘N Fabulous was scratched after finishing last in the Waya Handicap on Saturday.