An Interesting Story Follows Irish Trainer Dermot Weld into American Oaks

Internationally renowned Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who won the American Oaks in 2003 with Dimitrova, seeks a second win Sunday at Hollywood Park with Rare Ransom.

An interesting story follows Weld into Sunday's stakes race... Rare Ransom, who has won two of seven starts in Ireland, will be ridden by Patrick Smullen. In 2003, Smullen was named on Dimitrova at entry time, but the call had originally been given to jockey David Flores. Following an appeal to the racing board by Jim Pegram, agent for Flores, the stewards ruled that the owners of Dimitrova would have to pay double jockey fees -- $90,000 in the event of a win -- if Smullen rode. Flores got the call, and scored with Dimitrova by two lengths over Sand Springs.

Sunday, Flores will ride Mrs Kipling for Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale and celebrity chef owner Bobby Flay. Mrs Kipling scored an impressive 2 1/2-length victory in the one-mile Senorita Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 3.

The $700,000 American Oaks will be contested at 1-1/4 miles on the Hollywood Park turf course.