‘Pleasure Hopes to End Pain of No Wins in 2004

Excessivepleasure, who earned more than $821,000 as a 3-year-old, will try for his first win of 2004 in today’s second race at Hollywood Park.

A California-bred son of In Excess trained by Doug O’Neill for a partnership, Excessivepleasure is 0 for 4 this year and will be making his first start since he was second to Beau Soleil in the $150,000 Tiznow on April 24.

Successful in the WinStar, Iowa and Indiana derbies in 2003, the gelding will be meeting five others this afternoon in the $46,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles. Jon Court, who has won twice in six collaborations with Excessivepleasure, has the mount.

The probable favorite is Verkade. A winner of four of 17 lifetime, the 4-year-old son of Montbrook was a distant second as the favorite in his lone start of the meet at the same level on Nov. 18. The winner that afternoon was Truly A Judge, who returned to win the Native Diver Handicap on Saturday.

Freddy, who hasn’t come close in two starts in the U.S. for trainer Don Burke II; Asong For Billy, who hasn’t won since June 22, 2003; Go Bob, who is making his first start in this country after winning three of 11 in Argentina, and Night Patrol, who has done the majority of his winning on the grass, complete the field.

Race of the day: Congressional Run, a big winner in his most recent start for Roddy Valente and Weatherwatch Farm and trainer Bruce Levine, will make his inner track debut at Aqueduct in today’s eighth.

Mike Luzzi will ride the 3-year-old Cherokee Run gelding, who made his first 13 starts in California, in the $46,000 allowance at a mile and 70 yards. The race is part of a pick six with a two-day carry-over of $148,285.

One for the road: Radical Banker will make his first start against New York breds and first for trainer Scott Lake, so look for improvement from the 2-year-old Banker’s Gold colt in today’s seventh race at Aqueduct. Luzzi will be aboard in the $43,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Verkade in the second, Time To Sing, Proud General and Belbart in the third and Passion For Words, Great White North and Tialinga in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/85. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13/$480. Total money bet: $528.