Racing at Hollywood Park : This Time, Fitzwilliam Place Wins Gamely ‘Cap

Fitzwilliam Place, an Irish mare with a knack for dramatics, never even made it to the starting gate for the 1988 Gamely Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Her jockey that day, Chris McCarron, did not like the way she warmed up before the race, and the track veterinarian agreed. As a result, Fitzwilliam Place was scratched.

One year later, stronger and flying the new silver-and-black King colors of Bruce McNall, Fitzwilliam Place made it all the way to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s 1989 version of the $108,400 Gamely with a whisker-thin decision over her stablemate, Claire Marine.

And for those who prefer their justice poetic, McCarron was aboard Claire Marine.

“What happened last year made this win just that much sweeter,” said Rodney Rash, who sent out the 1-2 Gamely finishers in the absence of their trainer, Charlie Whittingham.

Rash, who has been Whittingham’s assistant since 1982, was also excited about beating Allen Paulson’s Ravinella. The European classic winner finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind the top two, with no apparent excuse.

Ravinella’s trainer, Richard Lundy, was Whittingham’s assistant when Rash went to work for the barn in 1977.

“I was even more nervous about this race, because any horse Dick Lundy trains is the horse to beat,” said Rash. “I learned a lot from him, and I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for him.”

Of course, this was the same Rash who, in his youth, once put a garter snake in the front seat of Lundy’s car. As practical jokes go, it was a home run.

These days, the laugh is usually on the rest of the Southern California trainers, who have been trying in vain to loosen Whittingham’s grip on the major money events.

While Whittingham has been back east, tearing through the Triple Crown with Sunday Silence, Rash and the rest of the staff have put the stable on top in the Hollywood Park standings with 11 wins, six of them in stakes.

When the Gamely group last assembled in the May 7 Wilshire Handicap, Claire Marine edged Fitzwilliam Place by a head. It was the third straight second for McNall’s mare.

This time, Corey Black was able to stay off the pace with Fitzwilliam Place, a move that gave her the punch she needed at the end to hold off the furious rally of Claire Marine on the outside.

“Last time Claire Marine was able to sit just behind us and then out finish my mare,” said Black, who has won major races in San Francisco, Minneapolis and Los Angeles in the last week.

“This time I wanted to pick it up a little sooner so that wouldn’t happen,” added Black. “Today was the best she ever kicked it in for me.”

The Whittingham entry hit the wire at the end of the 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:47 4/5 and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10, while Ravinella also returned the minimum $2.10 to show.

In fact, the track had to come up with $14,337 to make up for a shortfall in the show pool, the second time a Whittingham sweep has cost them this season. And it’s breaking Charlie’s heart, no doubt.

Raintree Renegade, also from Team Whittingham, took home fourth money.

Horse Racing Notes

Wishing Well, dam of Sunday Silence, won the 1980 Gamely Handicap. . . . Debs Angel sent trainer Wayne Lukas a get-well card by winning the $31,600 Orinda Handicap Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Lukas is recuperating at home in Arcadia after undergoing surgery last Tuesday to repair a severely herniated disk and bone spur on a vertabra. His doctor has prescribed several weeks of bed rest. . . . Clover Stable and partners will try for a Minnesota sweep later this month when they send First Play, winner of Friday’s Hollywood feature, to Canterbury Downs for the $300,000 St. Paul Derby, and Honeymoon Handicap winner Hot Option for the $150,000 Canterbury Oaks. . . . Corey Black will try to continue his hot stakes streak Wednesday at Belmont Park, where he will be riding Bruce McNall’s Down Again in the Jaipur Handicap.