Six-S Racing Stable and Niko Petralia's Clubhouse Ride , second to Game On Dude in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) in his last start, will face six others in the $150,000 Californian Stakes (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park June 1.
The 5-year-old Candy Ride horse finished a half-length behind heavily favored Game On Dude in the 1 1/8-mile Charles Town Classic. The Californian will be run at the same distance, but on the synthetic Cushion Track at Hollywood Park.
Trained by Craig Lewis, who won the 1988 Californian with Cutlass Reality, Clubhouse Ride has three wins in 27 races and earnings of $869,620. He is winless in six starts on Cushion Track but has been second or third on four occasions.
Garrett Gomez has the call from post 1 at 115 pounds.
Arnold Zetcher's Liaison , trained by Bob Baffert, won the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park in 2011 as a 2-year-old. Now 4, the Indian Charlie colt was blanked until his victory in the Santana Mile at Santa Anita Park this year; he then won the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) May 4 at Hollywood.
Liaison has won three of five starts on the Cushion Track. Martin Garcia rides from post 5 at 121 pounds.