They’ll Take to the Turf

Hollywood Park begins its annual six-race Turf Festival today with two Grade III races -- the Miesque Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile and the $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express for older sprinters at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Scheduled for one mile, the Miesque was split into two divisions and the purse for each half is $75,000.

In the first division, Royal Copenhagen, who won two of three on the turf in France, will make her U.S. debut for owner Richard Duchossois and trainer Laura de Seroux against seven opponents.

Paddy’s Daisy, who has won three of four on the lawn, leads the second division, which is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $85,942. The King Of Kings filly already has victories at Keeneland, Saratoga and the Meadowlands.

Cajun Beat, the upset winner of the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is the 3-1 morning line favorite against eight others in the Turf Express.

*

Race of the day: Perfect Drift, who has earned nearly $892,000 this year without winning a race, will try to end his nine-race losing streak in today’s $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. A Grade II at 1 1/8 miles, the Clark attracted nine others.

One for the road: R Lady Joy adds Lasix and joins a new barn (Tony Pecoraro) for her second start and should improve with experience in today’s fifth at Aqueduct. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride the 2-year-old Vicar filly in the $45,000 maiden race at seven furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Cee’s The Point in the seventh, Mighty Beau, Cajun Beat and Geronimo in the eighth, Double Option, Motivo and John The Mail Man in the ninth and Doppio, Orbits World, Storm Mate and Radio Station Man in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/46. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19/$266.80. Total money bet: $284.