HOLLYWOOD PARK : Uppie Duppie Posts a $345 Victory

In terms of mutuel return, Uppie Duppie, a 4-year-old Flight To Glory gelding, turned in the second biggest upset in Hollywood Park history in Saturday’s second race.

In breaking his maiden against $32,000 rivals, Uppie Duppie returned $345.80, a $2 payoff exceeded only by Family Flair. She paid $361.80 when she won June 29, 1989.

Trained by former harness conditioner Torsten Bertram, Uppie Duppie, a California-bred, finished last, beaten 23 lengths at 123-1 in his debut March 24 at Santa Anita. Then, on April 18, he finished ninth, beaten nearly 12 lengths at 152-1.

Uppie Duppie, who was almost 172-1 Saturday, turned things around in a huge way. With apprentice Felipe Martinez aboard, he won by four lengths while on the lead most of the race. He completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 3/5.

Mr. Conductor, a 10-1 shot, was second, and the $2 exacta shattered the Hollywood Park record. The 6-8 combination was worth $6,989.40. The previous high was $3,854.20 when His Highness and J.R. Johnson ran 1-2 in the ninth race on Nov. 13, 1988.

“I thought this horse was a lot better than he had shown,” said Bertram, who bet $5 to win on Uppie Duppie. “The first time, he was in a straight maiden race and he was buried. He came back for maiden $45,000 and passed some horses in the stretch. It looked like he needed more ground.

“I always thought he should go long. But, other than that, I’m not a genius. He surprised me, too.”

Paula Revere is one filly who wouldn’t mind if there were year-round racing at Hollywood Park.

The 3-year-old daughter of Caveat has four victories from six lifetime starts, and all of them have come at Inglewood. She has yet to lose locally.

Paula Revere earned her latest success in Saturday’s $103,100 Senorita Breeders’ Cup Stakes. The 4-1 third choice in the field of seven, she beat 16-1 shot Shy Trick by nearly three lengths, running the mile on turf in 1:35 2/5.

Second behind longshot Simple Surprise for a bit more than a half-mile, Paula Revere moved to the lead easily under Jose Santos, opened up two lengths with a furlong to run and never was in danger from there.

“It certainly looks like she’s on the improve,” said trainer John Sadler after the Maryland-bred filly won for the second time in three turf starts. “She likes to win, and I don’t think she’ll have any problem going more distance. Caveat won the Belmont.”

She earned $61,860 for her owners Irvlu Stable and gave Santos his first stakes victory of the meeting.

Marquetry, an easy winner of his last two sprints at Santa Anita, will try to stretch his speed around two turns in today’s $162,800 John Henry Handicap.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, the 4-year-old Conquistador Cielo colt equaled Shirkee and Baffle’s course record when he ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11 4/5 on the Santa Anita hillside turf course March 24. He came back to win by nearly three lengths two weeks later at the same distance, but he’ll be trying 1 1/8 miles today.

Alex Solis will ride Marquetry, who has never won past seven furlongs, but who was beaten by only a nose going 1 1/4 miles in England.

The five other entrants are Super May, who was second to Exbourne in his first start of 1991 in the Shoemaker Handicap two weeks ago; Jovial, who won the Cinema Handicap over the Hollywood Park turf last summer; Blaze O’Brien; El Rincon Handicap winner Pharisien and Tartas. Somethingdifferent wasscratched Saturday afternoon.