Worldly edges Silent Soul, wins Will Rogers

A winner in his U.S. debut over the Santa Anita turf course on April 6, Worldly was just as effective in a more lucrative spot on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

An English gelding owned by Christopher Wright and trained by Ben Cecil, the 8-5 favorite rallied under jockey Victor Espinoza to win the Grade III $100,000 Will Rogers.

The victory was the third in five starts for the gray son of Selkirk, who out-finished by a half-length Silent Soul, who was a nose in front of Mayor Bozarth, to win in 1:35.19 for the mile. Silent Soul was also the runner-up when Worldly won by three-quarters of a length last month in Arcadia.

“He just loves to run,” said Espinoza after his third win in the Will Rogers since 2000. “He’s got a lot of talent and he’s getting better with each race. His first race in this country was good and today he showed he could compete with good horses.”

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Making her first start over the Cushion track at Hollywood Park, Selvatica had little trouble as the 2-5 favorite, wiring her six opponents in the $76,775 Desert Stormer Handicap.

Trained by Julio Canani for owner Marsha Naify, the 6-year-old Forestry mare won for the seventh time in 12 starts, running the six furlongs in 1:09.58 while defeating 20-1 longshot Bully Bones by two lengths. Selvatica, who has been worse than second only once, was ridden by David Flores, who added another victory later in the card to give him 2,999 for his career.

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Teammate, the 7-2 second choice, overtook 3-5 favorite Sugar Shake in the final eighth of a mile to win the Grade II $150,000 Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park.

The victory was the fourth in 16 starts for the 4-year-old A.P. Indy filly and provided Allen Jerkens, who trains Teammate for owner-breeder Joseph Allen, with his fifth victory in the Shuvee.

Teammate, who had only one win in eight previous appearances at Belmont, covered the mile in 1:38.19. Rahys’ Appeal finished third.

Meanwhile, at Churchill Downs, Spin Master won for the third time in four starts for trainer Dale Romans and Eldon Farm Equine LLC as the 3-year-old Distorted Humor colt captured the $100,000 Matt Win under jockey Miguel Mena.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com