Top two older stars sit out Californian

The final major prep race for the $700,000 Grade 1 Hollywood Gold up will go as the ninth race today at Hollywood Park and will be minus the two best older horses in training in California -- Tiago and Well Armed.

The $250,000 Grade 2 Californian attracted 12 horses, including the top three finishers in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap -- Ball Four, Rail Trip and Dakota Phone. Also entered are 2008 Gold Cup champion Mast Track and 2007 Pacific Classic runner-up Awesome Gem, who lost by a neck in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap at Golden Gate in his last start on May 25 but who seems to have tailed off since his best days.

It's a solid field, but it lacks Southern Califonia's two major handicap players.

Tiago is back on the track training and is not far off from a race. Maybe the Gold Cup on July 11? And Well Armed, who romped for fun in the $6 million Dubai World Cup in late March, is being pointed toward a return at Del Mar by trainer Eoin Harty. Well Armed may race in the San Diego Handicap on Aug. 2 and then come back in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sept. 6.

As far as today's Californian, I like Rail Trip to avenge his only loss in six career starts. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. will have the 4-year-old gelded son of Jump Start on the lead today, particularly if they go a slow 24 1/5 opening quarter like in the Mervyn LeRoy. If Rail Trip is allowed to set the pace with a slow or moderate first half-mile, it will be all over.