Winendynme vs. Megahertz

If Winendynme runs anywhere near as well as another recent purchase by owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill, there will be an upset in the $200,000 Beverly Hills Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

Earlier in the meet, Andujar, who was sold to Reddam and O’Neill after a big allowance win in her first start on dirt, rolled to an easy victory in the $200,000-added Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap in her first start for her new connections.

Winendynme will be seeking her sixth win in 13 starts in her first appearance in a Grade II stakes this afternoon. Her main competition is expected to be Megahertz, the diminutive mare who is a fan favorite primarily because of her late-running style.

Owned by Michael Bello, Megahertz, a 5-year-old daughter of the English sire Pivotal, has won 12 of 30 and nearly $1.7 million and she will be heavily favored to win the 1 1/4 -mile Beverly Hills. Carrying top weight of 124 pounds, meaning she will be spotting her five opponents from nine to 12 pounds, Megahertz will be ridden by Alex Solis as she looks for her third win in seven starts on the Hollywood Park turf course.

Previously trained by Jenine Sahadi for her father Fred, Winendynme has won her last two, but she has yet to prove herself beyond a mile, having spent most of her career sprinting. Eight of her races have been at 6 1/2 furlongs or shorter.

“This was one of those deals where somebody approached us and said she was for sale,” O’Neill said in explaining how Winendynme was purchased. “I started watching videotapes of her races and her record was so impressive and so consistent.

“I also watched her train and was so impressed. Jenine had her in tip-top shape. The risk is whether she can go longer. We think she can. She has the pedigree.” In her last race, a win in the one-mile Tranquillity Lake on May 28, “she certainly exploded that last sixteenth of a mile.”

Solis was the rider in that last victory, but he is sticking with Megahertz, so Corey Nakatani will ride Winendynme. The jockey, who was also aboard Andujar for her monstrous performance in the Milady, rode Winendynme once for Sahadi. They finished fourth in the La Habra Stakes, a 6 1/2 -furlong turf sprint at Santa Anita, on Feb. 11, 2004.

Halo Ola, who was sixth in the Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap in her U.S. debut on May 30, Five Nickels, Uraib, and Agata, who has won two in a row against lesser, complete the field.