Fighting Hussar Will Run Rain or Shine

Hector Palma has more than a trainer’s interest in Saturday’s $300,000 California Breeders Champion Stakes at one mile on the main track. The veteran horseman also owns 75 percent of Fighting Hussar, who missed by a half length at 11-1 of overtaking 60-1 winner Weewinnin in the King Glorious Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 16.

“He’s going to run,” Palma said Friday morning, dismissing conditions caused by rain the last two days that created wet/fast conditions on the main track for today’s races. “What happens, happens.”

A gray son of Rockport Harbor, Fighting Hussar has never been worse than fourth in six outings, but this will be his first race beyond seven furlongs, the distance of the King Glorious, in which Fighting Hussar rallied four wide.

“He was wide,” Palma affirmed, “but the other horse (Weewinnin) was wide, too, and he beat me fair and square, no excuses. Tomorrow we’ll see if he goes a mile or I go a mile.”

The field for the California Breeders Champion Stakes: Omega Star, Julien Leparoux, 5-2; Alydidit, Orlando Mojica, 30-1; Major Truth, Alonso Quinonez, 20-1; O Wild West Wind, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1; Lovmeister, Martin Pedroza, 15-1; Fighting Hussar, Rafael Bejarano, 5-1 China Prince, Joe Talamo, 10-1; Monument, Juan Hernandez, 7-2; Tiz a Minister, Garrett Gomez, 8-1; Surfcup, Martin Garcia, 8-1; and Weewinnin, Jose Valdivia Jr., 7-2.