Racing at Hollywood Park : Perfec Travel Scores $74 Upset in Winning Triple Bend Stakes

Longshot Perfec Travel ran down Reconnoitering and Don’s Irish Melody in the final eighth of a mile to score a 1-length victory in the $83,350 Triple Bend Handicap, one of three stakes races at Hollywood Park Saturday.

The Spotlight Handicap for 3-year-olds was split into two divisions, each run at a mile on the turf.

Favored Bel Air Dancer survived a claim of interference and won the $83,300 first segment by 2 1/2 lengths over Prospectors Gamble.

Exclusive Nureyev won the $83,350 second running by 1 lengths over longshot Prove Splendid, his second stakes victory in three starts for trainer Hector Palma.

In the Triple Bend, a Grade III event, Corey Black rode Perfec Travel to his third stakes victory in six starts this year. The 6-year-old gelding covered the 7 furlongs in 1:22 1-5 and paid $74.40, $18.20 and $7.20. First place was good for $49,600, raising Perfec Travel’s earnings to $318,925.

Reconnoitering, with Aaron Gryder, returned $11.60 and $6.80. Don’s Irish Melody, carrying Antonio Castanon, was a head back in third and paid $6.40.

Very Subtle, favorite in the field of nine, faded to seventh.

Bel Air Dancer’s victory in the first division of the Spotlight, with Gryder up, was timed in 1:34. The Kentucky-bred sophomore gelding, who was claimed for $40,000 by trainer Craig Lewis, won for the third time in six races and snapped a string of three second-place finishes.

He paid $5.60, $3 and $2.60 while winning $49,550, the bulk of his career total of $63,925.

Prospectors Gamble, second for the third straight race, paid $3.60 and $3. Balote, with Ray Sibille aboard and another 3 1/2 lengths back in third, returned $4.80. Bel Air Dancer and Prospectors Gamble each carried 117 pounds while Balote had 115.

Sibille filed a claim of interference against Bel Air Dancer, but it was overruled by the stewards.

In the second division, Exclusive Nureyev, with Rafael Meza and 118 pounds, clocked 1:34 1/5 and paid $7, $4.60 and $3.80. He also won $49,550, pushing his earnings to $108,087.

Prove Splendid, under Frank Olivares and 113 pounds, returned $26.20 and $11.60. Glad Music, with Alex Solis and 116 pounds, paid $4 to show after finishing a neck back of Prove Splendid and three-quarters of a length ahead of favored Roberto’s Dancer.