JEFF NAHILL - jnahill@nctimes.com

Finishing lines

- Rancho Santa Fe's Marty Wygod told Hollywood Park officials he is strongly considering running his 4-year-old filly Life Is Sweet against the boys in the July 11 Hollywood Gold Cup.

That may come as a surprise to some, but the reasoning makes a lot of sense: Wygod doesn't want to lose another race to undefeated 5-year-old mare Zenyatta, who is a perfect 10-for-10.

Life Is Sweet is coming off a loss to Zenyatta in the May 23 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Both horses are trained by John Shirreffs and could meet again in next weekend's Vanity Handicap in Inglewood. But Wygod would rather take his chances against a less-than-stellar group of handicap horses.

"I would rather run against Zenyatta at Santa Anita," Wygod said. "(Jockey Garrett) Gomez said she likes the surface there better."

- Trainer Eoin Harty has quite a dilemma on his hands, as both of his handicap stars -- Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed and 2008 Travers Stakes winner Colonel John -- are working toward their return to racing and could both be running at Del Mar.

Harty has targeted the Aug. 2 San Diego Handicap for Well Armed's return, the Daily Racing Form reported. Well Armed won the race last year before losing by a neck to Go Between in the Pacific Classic.

Harty probably will follow a similar path with Colonel John and run at Hollywood Park before the end of its meet followed by a return to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for its summer handicap races.

- Don't expect to see brilliant female sprinter Indian Blessing at Del Mar after her dismal fourth-place finish in Sunday's Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park. Trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form that the 4-year-old filly was healthy after a series of tests following the loss. She will be pointed for races on the dirt at Saratoga.

- After a slow start to his career, Barbaro's full brother, Nicanor, won his second race at Delaware Park on Wednesday. Both victories came on the grass, so don't look for Nicanor to return to the dirt anytime soon. The ill-fated Barbaro won on the grass, too, but his greatest triumph came in the Kentucky Derby. Maybe Del Mar can entice Nicanor to come out for the Del Mar Derby on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Thumbs up, thumbs down

- Thumbs down to the California Horse Racing Board for allowing trifecta betting on four-horse fields and superfecta wagering on six-horse fields. The sport has enough black eyes right now. Why give someone an idea to fix a race?

- Thumbs up to Mine That Bird for finishing first, second and third in the three races of the Triple Crown. I didn't realize how popular the 3-year-old gelding was until the crowd at Hollywood Park roared its approval when he took the lead in the stretch of the Belmont, only to finish third.

- Thumbs down to Hollywood Park management for not showing all of the graded stakes on the Belmont undercard on its video board. There were good horses and races that people were forced to leave their seats for and watch under the stands.

- Thumbs up to jockey Martin Pedroza for winning a race on Thursday at Hollywood Park at odds of 17-1. It was Pedroza's first victory since returning from a five-month injury absence.

- Thumbs down to the ride jockey Julien Leparoux gave Einstein in the Stephen Foster Handicap last week at Churchill Downs. Einstein was attempting to become the first horse to win three straight Grade I races on different surfaces (synthetic, grass and dirt). Leparoux was boxed in the entire race. The good news is trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi said afterward that Einstein remains on track for Del Mar's Pacific Classic.

Around the country

Staff writer Jeff Nahill's handicap of select races around the country on Saturday:

Hollywood Park

Ninth race, Affirmed Handicap (Grade III): 1.Scorewithcater, 2. Cape Truth, 3. Misremembered. Long shot: Grazen.

Belmont Park

Ninth race, The New York (Grade II): 1. Backseat Rhythm, 2. Belle Allure, 3. Criticism. Long shot: Colina Verde.

Colonial Downs

11th race, Colonial Turf Cup (Grade II): 1. Battle of Hastings, 2. Mark S the Cooler, 3. Lime Rickey. Long shot: Take the Points.