Big Fields at Churchill

Churchill Downs will end its spring-summer meet in a big way today. The main event, the $150,000 Bashford Manor, is only a Grade III for 2-year-olds traveling six furlongs, but it attracted 10 runners and is part of a card that has nothing but large fields. A total of 130 horses were entered in the 11 races; some California tracks get that many horses in two days.

There are a number of contenders in the Bashford Manor, headed by first-out winners R Loyal Man, Deputy G and Preside. Owned by Alfred Kowalewski and trained by Tim Ritvo, R Loyal Man, a son of More Than Ready, broke his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in the slop at Calder on June 11. He will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who long ago wrapped up the local riding title.

Deputy G, a Matty G colt, won by 4 1/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs on May 14. Preside, a son of Pulpit, graduated in his bow by 10 lengths on April 28 at Keeneland.

The field has four other last-out winners: Cockney Can Man, Federer, Honor Due (trained by Dale Roman, the meet’s leading trainer) and Fly Me Now.

Race of the day: Golden Arrow will try for his third win in 12 starts on the Hollywood Park turf course when he takes on seven other sprinters in the $75,000 Robert Kerlan Memorial Handicap. Patrick Valenzuela will ride Golden Arrow, a 6-year-old Rahy horse, in the 5 1/2 -furlong race. Kingdom Come, Scheffer, Shadow Of Illinois, Stormin’ Lyon, Geronimo, Siren Lure and Billy’s Echo complete the field.

One for the road: Spooky Mulder, re-claimed by trainer Scott Lake out of an easy win on April 10 at Aqueduct, races in today’s sixth at Belmont Park. Jose Santos will ride the 7-year-old Brunswick gelding for owners Bruce Golden and Ben Mondello in the $75,000 claimer at six furlongs. Spooky Mulder has won 20 of 50.

Exotically speaking: An early pick four using It Was Meant To Be and Our Southern Pearl in the first, Last Conquest, Gone Quiet and Beau in the second, Devons Success in the third and Mits S., Dreamwood, Dynamite and Oliver Travels in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/146. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.20/$787.50. Total money bet: $984.