HOLLYWOOD PARK : Colt Goes From Claim to Fame

Sultry Song didn’t supply the biggest surprise at Hollywood Park on Saturday.

Slew The Surgeon, a 14-1 shot and recent $32,000 claim, beat Softshoe Sure Shot by a head to win the $109,600 Triple Bend Handicap.

Timed in 1:21 2/5 for the seven furlongs, the 4-year-old Slew The Bride colt provided trainer Eric Guillot with his first victory in California, jockey Modesto Linares with his first stakes victory in the United States and owner Jens List Jr. with his first thoroughbred stakes success.

The Louisiana-born Guillot had Slew The Surgeon for one race last year, but after a disagreement with then-owner and breeder Delores E. Davis, the chestnut was moved to Don Pierce’s barn.

“I had the horse when (original trainer) Mel Stute sent it to the farm because of a tendon (injury),” said Guillot, 30. “I worked on the horse for the owner and brought the horse back. She sent the horse to Del Mar and wanted to run in an allowance race. I wanted to run him for a (claiming) tag the first time back. He ran last, beaten by about eight lengths, in a (6 1/2-furlong) race where they went in 1:14 4/5--and 1:14 2/5 was the track record. After that, the owner and I had some problems.”

Racing at different levels on the claiming ladder, Slew The Surgeon scored seven victories in his next nine starts. On May 17, Lins, who has raced quarter horses for seven years, and Guillot claimed him.

“He (List) believed in me,” said Guillot, who said he grew up about three blocks from Eddie Delahoussaye in Louisiana.

“I’ve been in California about 6 1/2 years, but I just took out my (trainer’s) license two years ago. I trained on the bush tracks in Louisiana, but I trained everything under my brother’s name.

“How do you like my first win in California? Pretty good for a $32,000 claim, huh?”

Linares, recently arrived from Panama, squeezed through along the rail to take the lead into the stretch, opened up by a length with a furlong to run, then held on. Record Boom, who had traffic problems, was third, three-quarters of a length behind Softshoe Sure Shot. Light Of Morn, the 2-1 favorite, was fourth.

“I expected this horse to run very well because he’s been working so well in the mornings,” Linares said through an interpreter.

“There wasn’t too much room--I almost had to force him through there a little bit.”

Bobby Frankel and Juddmonte Farms didn’t win the stakes they really wanted with Marquetry or Defensive Play, but trainer and owner weren’t shut out on Gold Cup Day.

Berillon, the lesser-regarded half of an entry that also included Glorify, skimmed the rail and beat pacesetter Single Dawn to win the $82,650 Jim Murray Handicap.

No better than fourth in his previous four starts this year, Berillon won by three-quarters of a length under Corey Nakatani and completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:26 4/5.

In front nearly every step of the way under Gary Stevens, Single Dawn was second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Carnival Baby, the 9-5 favorite. Single Dawn now has a victory and four seconds in his last five starts.

Able to save ground throughout, Nakatani found room early in the stretch, took the lead without about a sixteenth of a mile to go and was pulling away at the finish. The entry paid $8 as the 3-1 third choice.

“He’s been begging to go a route of ground,” said Nakatani, apparently forgetting that the 5-year-old Rousillon gelding had gone 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/4 miles in his last two races.

“I had plenty of room. (Single Dawn) drifted out, and I shot through.”

Carnival Baby, third in his most recent appearance, didn’t have any excuses Saturday. He stalked Single Dawn, got the lead briefly, but was simply outrun through the final quarter of a mile.

Fanatic Boy was fourth, then came Micheletti, Glorify and Nijinsky’s Prince. Irish Empire was scratched.

Horse Racing Notes

In his last eight races around one turn, Slew The Surgeon has seven victories and a second. He was disqualified from the purse money for one of those victories. . . . Alysbelle, a full sister to Alysheba, found her niche--turf racing. The 3-year-old filly is now unbeaten in two starts on grass after a half-length victory in the $56,200 Variety Queen Stakes on Saturday. The 4-5 favorite, she was last for most of the 1 1/16 miles, then accelerated when asked by Eddie Delahoussaye, got the lead and was taken in hand in the final strides. She covered the distance in 1:41 2/5. Certam De May was second, a half-length in front of Crystal Stepper . . .

Pirate At Forty gained a short lead in the midstretch but had to struggle to win the $100,000 Ladbroke Futurity at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. Pirate At Forty, ridden by Ron Hansen, won by a length over Capel. El Atroz was third in the 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds.

Pirate at Forty, completing the fast course at 1:04 2-5, paid $6.60, $3 and $2.60. Capel paid $2.80 and $2.60, and El Atroz paid $5.20. Pirate At Forty collected $55,000 for the effort, Capel got $20,000 and El Atroz was awarded $15,000.

Vying Victor, who was scratched from the Ohio Derby last week when he ran a temperature, is a probable starter in the Silver Screen Handicap a week from today. . . . Post time for the Friday twilight card is 4 p.m. and 13 races are scheduled. . . . Jimmy Kilroe, former director of racing for Santa Anita, Del Mar and Hollywood Park, will turn 80 today and Santa Anita will honor him with a party at the track on Monday. Kilroe, who suffered a stroke in 1989, retired two ago years as senior vice president/racing of the L.A. Turf Club and director of racing at Oak Tree.