June 13 - Today's highly anticipated $250,000 Californian Stakes (Gr 2) at Hollywood Park in California has attracted a large and dynamic field of three-year-olds and up - including last month's Mervyn LeRoy Handicap rivals, Ball Four and Rail Trip - which should offer up some lucrative betting action.

With 12 horses expected to start in this afternoon's 1 1/8 mile Californian Stakes, punters will likely back Ball Four and Rail Trip. However, with such a big field, there may be a couple of horses that will slip through the cracks. Said Rail Trip trainer, Ron Ellis, 'I didn't expect there would be that many horses.'

Although the trainer will have carefully scoped out the competition, he has every reason to be confident that Rail Trip will finish in the money considering that the 4-year-old gelding only narrowly lost to Ball Four in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (Gr 2) at Hollywood Park, his first defeat in six starts.

'We cannot allow Ball Four to do what he did in the Mervyn LeRoy,' said Ellis. 'There is no doubt in my mind that Rail Trip is a faster horse than what he's been showing.' The trainer's only concern seems to be the distance of the Californian Stakes, especially if a speed duel ensues between the two old rivals.

Meanwhile, Ball Four's trainer Patrick Biancone is cautiously optimistic after last month's win. 'He came out of the race so good and is in good form,' he said. 'But this time we have two disadvantages. One, the surprise factor is not there, and two, we give weight to everybody. We didn't scare away anybody.'

As per Californian allowance conditions, Ball Four will carry a hefty 120 pounds today, conceding between 2 to 4 pounds to the other 11 runners. As to whether the trainer has any new tactics planned for the 8-year-old-gelding, the answer is 'no'. 'He has his own style and he's too old to change,' said Biancone.

Other runners in today's Californian Stakes that may well be worth considering for a wager include Awesome Gem, who crossed the line in third place in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, and who could be a threat off the pace, and outsider Mast Track, who will be attempting to end a lengthy 4-race losing streak.

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2012/04/02 06:44:07 AM