Just five horses, including supplemental entry Plug Me In, are set to go in an uninspiring renewal of the $100,000 Round Table Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf June 13. At 1 3/4 miles, the Round Table is the longest race of the Hollywood Park meet.
Obrigado and Porfido carry co-high weight of 119 pounds in the marathon, which will be run as the third race at 2 p.m. PDT.
The third-place finisher in the about 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park April 19, Obrigado attempts to end a 15-race losing streak. Trained by Neil Drysdale for Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso, the 6-year-old French-bred gelding has earned $606,504 in a 30-race career that includes five victories, but he has not won since capturing the 2007 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT).
Drysdale won the Round Table last year with Cedar Mountain.
Obrigado, who is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Golden Gate Fields Turf (gr. IIIT) May 30, will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the San Juan Capistrano.
Porfido, third in last year's Round Table as the 13-10 choice, has raced once this year, finishing third in an optional claiming/allowance race April 22. Trained by Bobby Frankel for Sumaya Us Stables, the 7-year-old Chilean-bred also ran third in last year's San Juan Capistrano and Sunset (gr. IIT) handicaps, and was second in the San Luis Rey Handicap (gr. IIT). He was scratched from the Golden Gate Turf in favor of this spot.
An eight-time winner of $493,908 in a 32-race career, the bay has lost seven straight since taking an allowance event at Santa Anita in January 2008. Regular rider David Flores stays aboard.
Gary Barber's grade II winner Zappa captured last summer's 12-furlong Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Marathon, in which he ran seventh. Trained by John Sadler, the 7-year-old Afternoon Deelites gelding has one optional claiming win in nine starts since the Del Mar victory, and was far out of it in his two most recent starts.
Leesider comes off a victory in a 1 1/16-mile claiming race on the Cushion Track at Hollywood May 13 for trainer Anthony Saavedra.
Plug Me In, supplemented for $2,000 from the Mike Mitchell barn, has posted back-to-back wins in claiming races at Santa Anita and Hollywood, both accomplished in front-running fashion. His prior stakes wins were both at Pomona, including the 2007 Ralph M. Hinds Invitational Handicap.
$100,000 Round Table Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 3, 2 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 3/4 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Obrigado (FR), J Rosario, 119, N D Drysdale
2. Leesider (CA), T Baze, 114, A K Saavedra
3. Plug Me In (KY), M Garcia, 115, M R Mitchell
4. Porfido (CHI), D R Flores, 119, R J Frankel
5. Zappa (KY), M E Smith, 116, J W Sadler
