HOLLYWOOD PARK : A Kinder, Gentler Sir Beaufort Wins the Native Diver Handicap

The fact that Sir Beaufort won the $106,700 Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park on Sunday was only a mild surprise.

What was a bit startling was that the 5-year-old son of Pleasant Colony walked into the starting gate without much hesitation.

Trainer Charlie Whittingham’s gray has made a habit of delaying starts because he doesn’t care for the gate. For some reason, Sir Beaufort has been especially ornery at Hollywood Park. His antics were so prolonged before the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap last May 17, Charts lost a shoe while waiting for Sir Beaufort to load and had to be scratched.

Compared to that afternoon, the 17-10 second choice was a perfect gentleman Sunday and responded with a three-quarters of a length victory over 13-1 shot Memo.

In a race reduced to five starters after Mr. Integrity, Doc Of The Day and Whatcom Warrior were scratched, Reign Road, the 9-10 favorite, was victimized by the lack of pace.

Memo made the lead through slow fractions while being tracked by Sir Beaufort, and they drew away from the rest of the field in the final quarter mile.

In giving Chris McCarron his fourth consecutive victory in the Native Diver, Sir Beaufort completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5. Memo finished eight lengths ahead of Berillon, who was four ahead of Reign Road. Cal Cup Classic winner June’s Reward was last throughout.

“He’s kind of a difficult horse,” Whittingham said after his second stakes victory in seven days. He won the Matriarch with Flawlessly on Dec. 6.

“But he’s a kind horse. He’s just got his own ways. If you don’t fight him, he gets along fine.”

This was the eighth victory in 28 starts for Sir Beaufort, who will probably return to race as a 6-year-old next year.

“He’s a big handful, this son of a gun,” McCarron said. “At least, he’s cooperating with us somewhat now (at the gate). As soon as he gives any indication he doesn’t want to go up there, we take him up right away. That’s why we load him early. Once he realizes you’ve got control over him, then he’ll walk in.

“He seems scared (of the gate). He must have had a very traumatic experience (back east) as a 2-year-old before he came out here. He’s been this way from day one.

“One thing I noticed today is he felt much more solid than before. His neck and shoulder felt as hard as a rock. Maybe he’s just physically stronger right now than he was earlier in the year.”

Reign Road, who had beaten Sir Beaufort in their previous two meetings, was at a big disadvantage Sunday because of the fractions (23 3/5, 47 1/5 and 1:11 3/5 for six furlongs).

“No pace!” jockey Kent Desormeaux said. “When I set him down, he started running at them. He kicked in as good as any other time, but the other two exploded. I’m not disappointed in him at all. He was trying.”

Miss Timebank, a full sister to Timebank and Overbrook, won her first start.

Trained by Gary Jones and owned by Saron Stable, the 2-year-old daughter of Water Bank drew away from favored Aleyna’s Love before a half-mile and went on to win by six lengths. Never touched by Desormeaux’s whip, she completed the six furlongs in 1:10.

Miss Timebank’s brother, Timebank, held the Hollywood Park track record for 6 1/2 furlongs until it was broken by Arches Of Gold on Thursday.

A field of seven, headed by Fraise and Itsallgreektome, is expected for the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Cup on Sunday.

Fraise could earn an Eclipse Award with a victory in the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup after upsetting Sky Classic in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Pat Valenzuela will ride the son of Strawberry Road.

Itsallgreektome will be trying to repeat his 1990 victory in the race after running second to Miss Alleged last year. The other probables are Bien Bien, Trishyde, Jolypha and the Whittingham entry of Campagnarde and Tel Quel. Myrakalu was supposed to run, but a bruised hoof will keep him in trainer Julio Canani’s barn.

Horse Racing Notes

Chris McCarron’s other three Native Diver victories during his streak came aboard Ruhlmann, Warcraft and Twilight Agenda. Charlie Whittingham trained Ruhlmann and Warcraft. . . . Kent Desormeaux, riding in Louisiana’s version of the California Cup on Saturday at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans, won with one of the five horses he rode, on Eskimo’s Angel in a $100,000 race for older fillies and mares. Desormeaux had four winners Sunday at Hollywood Park to increase his lead to 26-23 over Eddie Delahoussaye, who had two victories, in the jockey standings.

Trainer Mike Mitchell had three victories with Portillo, Viva El Capitan and Keep On Turnin, who won his fourth in a row, in the 10th. . . . Pat Valenzuela was off his mounts for a third consecutive day after being involved in a traffic accident Friday. He expects to be back Wednesday and is scheduled on four horses.