Frankel in Spot for Double

Twice in the last three years, trainer Bobby Frankel has swept the Matriarch and the Hollywood Derby.

He won the Derby with Super Quercus in 1999 the same day Happyanunoit took the Matriarch. Last year, he took the Matriarch with Starine and the Derby with Denon.

Frankel, the country’s leading trainer, has a chance for another such double today. He is scheduled to have two entries in both Grade I races. In the $500,000 Matriarch, he’ll send out the Juddmonte Farms-owned entry of Banks Hill and Tates Creek. Royal Gem and Inesperado will be his runners in the $500,000 Derby.

Both races are at 1 1/8 miles on the grass and are the final legs of Hollywood Park’s $2.1 million Turf Festival.

The one to beat in the Matriarch is Golden Apples. She had a rough trip as the 5-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf but can probably earn herself an Eclipse award as the nation’s top female turf performer with a win this afternoon. Starine, who was retired after a Breeders’ Cup victory, didn’t accomplish anything else this year, and a win would be the third Grade I score of the year for Golden Apples.

The Derby, which is part of a pick six that has a $1 million guaranteed pool, includes Johar and Rock Opera, who finished a nose apart in the Oak Tree Derby on Oct. 13; Century City, a troubled third in his U.S. debut in the Bay Meadows Derby on Nov. 3, and shipper Union Place.

Race of the day: Critical Eye, a hard-knocking, New York-bred mare, will try to go over $1 million in earnings in today’s $75,000 Montauk Handicap at Aqueduct. The 5-year-old daughter of Dynaformer has won 13 of 36 for owners Herbert and Carol Schwartz and trainer Scott Schwartz.

Who’s hot: Bill Mott. The trainer won with nine of his first 21 starters at Calder.

Who’s not: Colum O’Brien. The New York-based trainer is one for 56 this year.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Inesperado, Johar, Century City, Rock Opera and Royal Gem in the eighth, singling Excaper in the ninth and using Golden Rahy, Academy Spy and Value Play in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 6/45. Money: Previous day/meet total: $37.80/$252.80. Total money bet: $322.