Dominguez to Team Up With Frankel in Murray

The first time Maryland-based jockey Ramon Dominguez visited Hollywood Park last fall, things went well for him.

Riding for trainer Bobby Frankel, Dominguez won two stakes races during Hollywood Park’s Autumn Turf Festival -- the Hollywood Turf Express with Cajun Beat and a division of the Miesque with Louvain.

With jockey Patrick Valenzuela sidelined for perhaps the rest of the meet because of a torn knee ligament he suffered in a recent spill, Frankel has tabbed Dominguez to ride Vangelis, who will make his first start of 2005 in the $350,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap on Saturday.

The Murray, a Grade III at 1 1/2 miles on turf, is the headliner among three stakes on the card. It will be preceded by the $150,000 Los Angeles Times Handicap at six furlongs and followed by the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Idle since finishing third in the Clement L. Hirsch last fall at Santa Anita, Vangelis will be trying to give Frankel a record seventh victory in the Murray. The Hall of Fame trainer won the race four of its first five years and last won with Skipping in 2002. Frankel will also saddle Exterior and Continuously.

Seven others were entered Wednesday morning, including Sarafan, the 121-pound high weight, Runaway Dancer, Continental Red, who was third in the race a year ago, Pellegrino, San Juan Capistrano winner T.H. Approval and Deputy Lad.

Trainer Doug O’Neill, who won the L.A. Times Handicap with Pohave in 2004, sends out Areyoutalkintome, who drew the outside post in a field of six. Forest Grove, Tsigane, Hombre Rapido, who won the race in 2003, Shadow Of Illinois and Woke Up Dreamin also are scheduled to run.

Borrego is the 119-pound highweight in the LeRoy, the first major prep for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9. Garrett Gomez will ride the 4-year-old for trainer Beau Greely against American Liberty, Anziyan Royalty, Ender’s Shadow, who was the runner-up a year ago, El Don, Ace Blue, Outta Here and Native Hawk.