HORSE RACING: THIS VICTORY WORTH WAIT AMERICAN OAKS GETS ITS FIRST AMERICAN WINNER.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Staff Writer

INGLEWOOD -- It took four years and a flashy move by Wait a While to give the American Oaks its first American winner.

Hollywood Park's rich turf race for 3-year-old fillies had been a playground for overseas products Megahertz (the British-bred winner in 2002), Ticker Tape (British, 2004), Cesario (Japanese, 2005) and Dimitrova (Kentucky-bred but Irish-based, 2003).

But on Sunday the American Oaks was brought home by Wait a While, a gray filly who was bred in Kentucky and did her best work for trainer Todd Pletcher in Florida and New York.

Jockey Garrett Gomez sent her quickly from mid-pack to the lead on the turn for home outside of Attima and Foxysox, and she went on to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

Asahi Rising's runner-up finish denied Japan an Oaks repeat and a weekend double, following Dance in the Mood's win in the CashCall Mile here Saturday.

The $750,000 stakes was the richest on a day when 8-year-old The Tin Man ($4) won the American Handicap, as he had in 2002, to give Victor Espinoza his third stakes of the weekend; Hollywood Story ($7.20) broke a 14-month drought in the Vanity Handicap; Siren Lure ($8.60) won her 11th in 18 starts in the Triple Bend Handicap, and Charming N Lovable ($4.80) won the Flawlessly.

In the Grade I American Oaks, Wait A While ($7.60) was never threatened in the stretch while covering 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:59.38. Asahi Risig edged Arravale for second as top local hope Attima faded to eighth and last.

Stewards rejected a foul claim against the winner by Alex Bisono aboard sixth-place Foxysox.

Wait a While's biggest previous victory was a 14-length win in the Grade II Davona Dale on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park.

Last time out, she romped in the Grade III Sands Point at Belmont Park in a race taken off the grass in wet weather. The daughter of Maria's Mon broke her maiden at Belmont in her only previous grass race.

Sunday's victory was Pletcher's first in California since Dubleo won the Nov. 27, 2004, Generous Stakes. Pletcher apparently hadn't run a horse here since Limehouse's disappointing fifth in the 2005 Hollywood Gold Cup.

The aptly named Wait a While reminded California fans of the power of Pletcher, the 2004 and '05 Eclipse Award trainer and the top earner of '06.

Even with a foul claim in the American Oaks, it was a clean affair compared to the Vanity, which was delayed 14 minutes by injuries to the favorite and a starting-gate crewman.

Star Parade was 2-1 when she acted up in the gate. After examining her, Hollywood Park veterinarian Steve Buttgenbach had the Grade I-winning mare scratched.

During that delay, Mike Sherlock, the gate assistant handling Sharp Lisa, was kicked by Proposed and sustained two rib fractures. Sherlock, knocked to his knees, eventually walked to a stretcher and taken by ambulance to Centinela Hospital, where he was to be treated and released.

On to the Gold Cup: Lava Man was assigned 124 pounds for Saturday's Hollywood Gold Cup, six more than he carried to victory in the $750,000 handicap in 2005.

Others: Magnum, 118; Seek Gold, 117; Lucky J.H., 116, Super Frolic, 116, and That's an Outrage. Also entered but less likely to be entered: Spellbinder, 115; Ace Blue, 113, and Capitano, 112.

The last horse to win the Gold Cup while giving six pounds or more to his opponents was Affirmed, 132, beating Sirlad, 120, in 1979.

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Wait a While, ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, won the American Oaks Invitational at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Ric Francis/Associated Press