Horse Racing Roundup : Speedratic Has an On Day on Off Track at Hollypark

Speedratic found a muddy track to his liking as he raced to a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday in the $112,800 Affirmed Handicap for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park.

Jockey Gary Stevens, scoring his fourth victory of the day, kept the winner in third position until the turn for home, where he quickly moved to the front to overtake the pace-setting California Jade. He easily held off the closing bid of Blade of the Ball, ridden by Alex Solis.

Smart Guy came from well back for third, and heavily favored Mi Preferido finished a badly beaten fifth in the field of 10.

Speedratic, timed in 1:36 2/5, was second choice of the crowd of 19,000 and paid $11, $6.40 and $5. Blade of the Ball returned $10.80 and $6, and Smart Guy paid $8.60.

The victory brought $67,800 to a partnership headed by Dr. Robert Kerlan. It was the first career stakes victory for the Kentucky-bred son of Quadratic, who demonstrated his ability in an easy victory in an allowance race.

Gooodbye Halo, ranked as one of the nation’s top mares, heads a field of nine today in the $100,000 1 1/16-mile Dahlia Handicap on the turf course.

Tricky Creek took an early lead and drew away in the late stretch to post a 2-length victory over favorite Western Playboy in the 62nd running of the $163,205 Brown & Williamson Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The 2-year-old Clever Trick colt, with jockey Larry Melancon in the irons, covered the 1 1/16 miles on the sloppy surface in 1:45 2/5 and earned $108,033 for owners Glenn Bromagen and William Puttman.

Western Playboy, with Pat Day, the track’s leading stakes rider, aboard, finished second. Revive, under James Bruin, was another 5 lengths back in third.

The winner returned $38.40, $12.20 and $5.80. Western Playboy paid $3.80 and $2.60, and Revive returned $2.80.

The win was Tricky Creek’s second in five outings and increased his career earnings to $130,071. The colt also becomes eligible for a $1-million bonus underwritten by Brown & Williamson should he win the 1989 Kentucky Derby.