This Has the Makings of a Special Citation

Gentlemen, Geri, Fastness, Al Mamoon, Lord At War and Fly Till Dawn are among the horses that have won the Citation Handicap over the years, but none of those stars did what Good Journey has a chance to do today.

With a victory in the Grade II, which has a purse of $500,000, the 6-year-old Nureyev horse can become only the second two-time winner of the race. Forlitano, owned by the Evergreen Farm and trained by the late Charlie Whittingham, won in 1987 and ’88.

Owned by a partnership that includes breeder Flaxman Holding and trained by Wally Dollase, Good Journey won the Citation, one of the six races in Hollywood Park’s annual three-day Turf Festival, over a good course, outfinishing Decarchy, who is back for a rematch today, by half a length.

In four starts since, Good Journey has won three times and, at the top of the stretch of last month’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, he appeared headed to another victory. At the finish, however, he and jockey Pat Day had to settle for third, beaten by three-quarters of a length by longshot winner Domedrive and a by nose by favored Rock Of Gibraltar.

A winner of six of his 14 starts and with more than $1.35 million in earnings, Good Journey has never lost in three races on the Hollywood Park turf and is two for two at the Citation distance (1 1/16 miles).

The other stake on the Hollywood Park schedule today is the $200,000 Generous. The race, one mile on the turf for 2-year-olds, features a rematch between Man Among Men and Peace Rules, who finished a nose apart in a thrilling Pinjara on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita.

Race of the day: In today’s $350,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, jockey Jerry Bailey will ride Congaree for the first time since they teamed to finish third in the 2001 Preakness. Other notables in the field include Crafty C.T., Harlan’s Holiday, Red Bullet and Aldebaran.

Who’s hot: Anthony Dutrow. The Maryland-based trainer won with the first five horses he ran at Aqueduct and is winning at about a 37% clip for the year.

Who’s not: Dennis Carr. The jockey won with two of his first 56 mounts at Aqueduct.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Golden Ticket in the seventh, using Good Journey, Decarchy and White Heart in the eighth and Rubin’s Rose, Jade Vixen, Nettie’s Rose and Saxony in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 0/39. Money: Previous day/meet total: $0/$215.60. Total money bet: $302.