Routine for Some, Chance for Others

Todd Pletcher, the leading trainer in the country again this year, seems to have a starter or two, or three, in Grade I races at various tracks every weekend.

One of them today is Hollywood Park. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer of 2004, Pletcher will send out probable favorite Limehouse in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, which will be run for the 66th time.

Hollywood Park’s signature race, the Gold Cup is the highlight of a card that also includes the $400,000-added Swaps Breeders’ Cup for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 A Gleam for fillies and mares.

Participation in such races is habit for Pletcher, but that can’t be said for trainer Anthony Saavedra.

When Keep On Punching enters the gate for the 1 1/4 -mile Gold Cup, the 4-year-old son of Silver Deputy will be the first Grade I starter for Saavedra, who has been training for 17 years.

Born in Albuquerque, Saavedra, 39, is looking forward to the opportunity and says his rapidly improving colt has a legitimate chance to upset Limehouse, Congrats, Lava Man and the rest of the Gold Cup cast.

“It’s very exciting. It’s going to be the biggest day of my career. “ said Saavedra, who has 12 horses in a stable where he works, side by side, with wife Jennifer. “We’re a family operation and I wouldn’t be where I am today without Jennifer.

“The horse is doing super. He schooled beautifully in the paddock on Thursday and he galloped well on Friday morning. [Jockey] Rene [Douglas] has a ton of confidence in him and as easy as he won last time, he deserves a chance. This horse is really pushing the button right now.”

Purchased for $60,000 at a Barretts sale in the spring of 2003 by owners Dave and Ella Sivage, Keep On Punching has blossomed after losing his first eight races. Retired real estate developers who live in Scottsdale, Ariz., the Sivages will be at Hollywood Park today.

Maturing and more relaxed than he was earlier in his career, Keep On Punching has won three in succession, all since Saavedra put the blinkers back on that the colt had worn in his first four starts.

Keep On Punching scored the first of his wins as the even-money favorite against maidens April 15 at Santa Anita under jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

With Douglas taking over, Keep On Punching won an allowance race a month later at Hollywood Park, then turned in the best performance of his career on June 4 in Inglewood.

The 19-10 choice against six opponents in an optional claimer, Keep On Punching won by four lengths, running the 1 1/16 miles in a solid 1:41 3/5.

Besides his wife, Saavedra credits the late Willard Proctor for his success.

“He taught me everything I know,” said Saavedra, who worked for Proctor for a couple of years in the 1980s and later served as an assistant manager to Proctor’s son Hap at Glen Hill Farm in Florida. “Mr. Proctor was a great man and a very, very good horseman.”

*

No jockey has won the Swaps Stakes, which will be run for the 32nd time this afternoon, more than Chris McCarron. The Hall of Famer, who retired in 2002, finished with five victories in the Grade II.

Gary Stevens can climb within one of McCarron’s record when he rides likely favorite Don’t Get Mad against seven in the 1 1/8 -mile Swaps. Stevens, two for two on the son of Stephen Got Even, won the Swaps with Congaree in 2001, Thunder Gulch in 1995, and Jovial in 1990.

If Stevens is to succeed, Don’t Get Mad is going to have to win a race at a track other than Churchill Downs. Owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Ron Ellis, the $350,000 2-year-old purchase is four for five in Louisville but went 0 for 3 at Santa Anita earlier this year.

The main threats to Don’t Get Mad, who won the Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup by 3 1/4 lengths June 18, are Indian Ocean and Surf Cat, who finished 1-2 in the Affirmed Handicap the same day at Hollywood Park.

*

Stevens also has a live mount in the A Gleam Handicap, a Grade II at seven furlongs. He will ride Alphabet Kisses, who has won four of five starts at Hollywood Park, for owner-breeder John Harris and trainer Marty Jones against Festival, Puxa Saco, Heavenly Humor, Rinky Dink, Valentine Dancer, Muir Beach, Ramautelle and Star Parade.

During his Hall of Fame career, Stevens has been twice as successful in the A Gleam than he has been in the Swaps. He has won the race a record six times.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Gold Cup

Facts and figures on today’s Hollywood Gold Cup.

*--* * When: 5:10 p.m. estimated post time (eighth race on 10-race card, gates open 10:15 a.m.) * Favorites: Limehouse, 5-2; Congrats, 3-1; Lava Man, 7-2 * TV: Coverage starts at 4 p.m., ESPN

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1 Limehouse John Velazquez 5-2 2 Borrego Garrett Gomez 8-1 3 Deputy Lad Jon Court 20-1 4 Pt’s Grey Eagle Corey Nakatani 20-1 5 Anziyan Royalty Alex Solis 6-1 6 Congrats Tyler Baze 3-1 7 Lava Man Pat Valenzuela 7-2 8 Musique Toujours Victor Espinoza 20-1 9 Al Arz David Flores 12-1 10 Keep On Punching Rene Douglas 15-1

*--*