Include Defends Title

Include will try to do something today in Boston that only four other horses have done.

Owned by Robert Meyerhoff and trained by Bud Delp, the 5-year-old son of Broad Brush is seeking to become a repeat winner in the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs.

If Include, who won the race by four lengths in 2001, is successful again today, he will join a couple of heavy hitters on the list. Cigar (1995-96) and Skip Away (1997-98) are two of the others who won the race twice in a row.

A winner of 10 of 17 lifetime, Include will be ridden by Jerry Bailey, who was aboard for his victory last year, and they will break from Post 7 in the field of nine.

Jockey Gary Stevens will also be in Boston for the 11/8-mile, Grade II race. His mount is Macho Uno, who has started only five times since he beat Point Given by a nose in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Trained by Joe Orseno for owner Frank Stronach, the 4-year-old son of Holy Bull has won two of those races, including his most recent outing. He beat an allowance field as the 7-10 favorite at Gulfstream Park on March 23.

Rounding out the likely participants in the Massachusetts Handicap, which will be run about 2:40 locally and will be one of the simulcasts at Hollywood Park, are Soes Bandit, Griffinite, Evening Attire, Compelling World, Mongoose, John Little and Special Terms.

Race of the day: Spirit O’War, a fast-working son of Boston Harbor purchased for $600,000, and Dr. Litin, a $2.5-million purchase and a son of 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors, will debut in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park. The race is seven furlongs and is the second leg of the pick four.

Who’s hot: Donna Elordi. The trainer has won with five of 11 starters at Bay Meadows.

Who’s not: Gary Sciacca. The New York trainer has won with only six of 127 starters in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using No Night, Scoring Slew, Martiniquais and Albatros in the sixth, Spirit O’War, Rock Cod Johnny, Dr. Litin and Gravitate in the seventh, Johar and True Phenomenon in the eighth and singling Virginia Miss in the ninth.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 2/71. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7/$411.80. Total money bet: $466.