HOLLYWOOD PARK : Variety Road Gets On Trust Top Weight

Ken Qvale’s Variety Road, second in the Tanforan Handicap and winner of the Monterey Handicap at Bay Meadows, has been assigned high weight of 120 pounds for the one-mile On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park. The $100,000 On Trust Handicap is the first of four $100,000 stakes that will be run over the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend, which starts Thursday. First post on the special turkey day card is 11 a.m.

The 6-year-old Variety Road has started five times in 1989, with two wins and two seconds to his credit. A winner 11 times in 35 career starts, the veteran stakes campaigner has earned $683,865. Variety Road will pick up four pounds from his second place finish in the Grade III Tanforan Handicap.

Second high weight at 119 pounds is River Master, a 3-year-old colt. Three-year-olds receive three pounds on the scale at this time of the year, which puts River Master at 122 pounds without his allowance. However, the colt by His Majesty raced in Sunday’s Hollywood Derby, finishing third, and is considered unlikely to start in the On Trust.

Flying Continental (118) will pick up three pounds off his allowance win at Santa Anita Oct. 19. The 3-year-old colt by Flying Paster figures one pound above Variety Road without his three-pound allowance. The consistent sophomore has picked up a check in nine of 10 starts this year, winning twice, finishing second four times, third twice and fourth once.

The complete list of weights: Variety Road, 120; River Master, 119; Flying Continental, 118; He’s A Saros, 118; Bruho, 117; Mr. Bolg, 117; Elegant Bargain, 116; Just as Lucky, 116; Stylish Winner, 116; Don’s Irish Melody, 115; Reconnoitering, 115; Sensational Star, 115; Second Legend, 114; Survive, 113; No Commitment, 113; What A Diplomat, 113; Added Feather, 112; Courageous Pirate, 112; Gum, 112; Kennedy’s Knockout, 112; Akinemod, 111; Approved To Fly, 111; Naevus Star, 111; Comical, 110; On the Menu, 110.