Lazy Slusan will attempt to continue her domination over the West Coast distaff set in the Vanity.
Millionaires Lazy Slusan and Gourmet Girl, two of the country's leading distaffers, renew their rivalry Saturday in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park. Lazy Slusan, who took Hollywood Park's grade I Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths in her last race with Victor Espinoza aboard on June 3, was assigned high weight of 122 pounds, three more than Gourmet Girl and jockey Gary Stevens. But Gourmet Girl is on a roll, too. She posted a 10-1 upset by 4 1/2 lengths in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park in her last outing on April 8. Lazy Slusan, in third, was five lengths back that day following a troubled trip.Lazy Slusan, however, got the better of Gourmet Girl in two of three earlier meetings. She won Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) and in the Work The Crown Handicap at Golden Gate earlier this year with Gourmet Girl finishing fifth in each. Thus, the two 6-year-old bay mares, both of which were bred in California, enter the 1 1/8-mile Vanity virtually even in their rivalry. Five were entered in the 60th running including Feverish, who defeated the top pair in the Bayakoa. Owned by the partnership of Longo and trainer John Dolan, Lazy Slusan again will be ridden by Espinoza, who has been faultless in two trips aboard the daughter of Slewvescent. Lazy Slusan brings earnings of $1,034,410 into the Vanity from an overall record of 12-6-9 in 44 starts.Gourmet Girl has earned slightly more, $1,045,373, in fewer outings for owner Gary A. Tanaka. Stevens takes over as the jockey after Gourmet Girl was ridden by Eastern-based Calvin Borel in the Apple Blossom.The complete field for the Vanity Handicap, in post order with jockeys and weights: Setareh( Garrett Gomez, 114); Gourmet Girl (Gary Stevens, 119); Feverish (Eddie Delahoussaye, 117); Letter Of Intent (Laffit Pincay Jr., 111) and Lazy Slusan (Victor Espinoza, 122).
