HOLLYWOOD PARK : Answer Do Wins Express Again

Lyman Rollins didn’t waste any time making plans for next year’s Hollywood Turf Express.

“We’ll try for four now, I guess,” said Answer Do’s trainer after the 6-year-old gelding’s third consecutive victory in the $200,000 sprint at Hollywood Park on Friday.

Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye remained unbeaten in three races on the California-bred. The 7-2 second choice won a three-horse photo finish from 13-1 outsider Repriced and Gundaghia, who had won the first division of the 1991 Express before Answer Do won the second.

Successful in the California Cup Sprint three weeks earlier, owner Charles F. Heider’s veteran sat off the early pace, moved up around the turn and won in 1:02 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. Repriced was a nose better than Gundaghia, who finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 5-2 favorite Gray Slewpy and 30-1 longshot and pacesetter Bold N’ Flashy, who finished in a dead heat for fourth.

“I said all along, Gundaghia was the horse to beat,” said Rollins, 72. “This is his distance. We did think we won. We started right down (for the winner’s circle). But it was closer than Brad (Rollins’ son and assistant trainer) and I thought.”

Although Answer Do is nominated for the six-furlong Vernon O. Underwood Handicap on Dec. 12, Rollins said Answer Do’s next start probably would be Jan. 9--the trainer’s birthday--in the seven-furlong San Carlos at Santa Anita.

Best Pal might begin his comeback from a leg injury in that race.

“He’s an old campaigner and he’s tough,” Delahoussaye said of Answer Do. “Mr. Rollins and Brad have done a great job with him. You have to use him a little bit to stay up close going 5 1/2 furlongs, because they run all the way and we just got up the last jump. If the race had been six furlongs, it would’ve been easier on us.”

Repriced is far more effective on grass than on dirt, but jockey Pat Valenzuela liked his chances.

“I thought I was going to get lucky,” Valenzuela said. “(Gundaghia) was laying on me through the stretch a little bit and I think that’s what cost me the race. He ran well, though.”

After suffering a bruised left front hoof and finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Zoonaqua will try to bounce back in the $250,000 Miesque Stakes on the turf today at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Brian Mayberry, the Sorrento and Oak Leaf winner is a daughter of Silver Hawk, the sire who produced Hawkster and Silver Ray, a colt with which Mayberry won a division of the Hoist The Flag Stakes last year. Alex Solis will ride Zoonaqua for the first time in the one-mile Miesque, and she is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line.

Creaking Board, who finished a length ahead of Zoonaqua in the Breeders’ Cup, is the 7-2 second choice. Now in Bobby Frankel’s barn, the 2-year-old Night Shift filly had a victory and three seconds in five turf starts in France. Kent Desormeaux will ride.

Besides Creaking Board, four other fillies in the field of 10 have victories on grass. Warside has two, having won the Salem City at the Meadowlands before winning the Green River at Keeneland. Corey Black has the mount on the daughter of Lord At War.

Trained by Francois Boutin, Lorelie won at Deauville in France in her first start, and Kates Delimma won a maiden race at the Meadowlands before finishing second to Warside in the Green River.

A 12-1 shot, Voluptuous is the only filly with a victory over the Hollywood Park grass. In her only try on the surface, the daughter of Cozzene won by four lengths. Gary Stevens will ride her for trainer Jack Van Berg.

Lord Of The Bay, who has won consecutive stakes in the East, is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line for today’s other turf stake, the $250,000 Hoist The Flag for 2-year-olds.

Owned by Sidney Port and now trained by Charlie Whittingham, Lord Of The Bay was 31-1 when he won the World Appeal at the Meadowlands, then was 15-1 when he won the Laurel Futurity by three lengths on Oct. 18. Delahoussaye will ride the Lord Avie colt.

Myrakalu beat Double Found by half a length to win the $62,000 Political Ambition on the turf.

Earlier in the week, Myrakalu, a 4-year-old Kaldoun colt, had dislocated trainer Julio Canani’s right arm while acting up in his stall. Still sporting a sling, the trainer wasn’t able to put the saddle on Myrakalu for his second victory in six U.S. starts. Ridden by Alex Solis, Myrakalu covered the 1 3/16 miles on turf in 1:54 2/5.

Horse Racing Notes

Light Of Morn beat Slerp by a nose in the Dancing Spree Handicap at Gulfstream Park the day before the Breeders’ Cup, and those horses will get together again today in the $55,000 Bedside Promise Handicap at six furlongs. Light Of Morn has won three of his last four for trainer Rodney Rash. Also entered are Fabulous Champ, who is unbeaten in four starts at Hollywood Park, Slew The Surgeon, Star Of The Crop and Ruff Hombre.