A one-time claimer of the year beat a potential horse of the year Saturday when Slew Of Damascus won the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup while The Wicked North, the 3-5 favorite, struggled home fourth in a five-horse field.

Slew Of Damascus had never won a major race, never won at 1 1/4 miles and lost to The Wicked North at Hollywood Park a month ago. But Slew Of Damascus went to the front this time under Gary Stevens, who got the mount when Corey Nakatani switched to ride Fanmore, and outran Nakatani's horse through the stretch for a three-quarter-length victory.

Fanmore, running on dirt for the first time, finished a half-length ahead of Del Mar Dennis, and it was another 7 1/2 lengths back to a punchless The Wicked North, who dropped out of contention with a half-mile left. Arcangues, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, finished last in the smallest field for the stake since 1967.

Paying $18 as the third betting choice, Slew Of Damascus capped an incredible run for his owners, Victor Naccarato and his cousins, Edris Harbeston and George Losh, all of Yakima, Wash. They paid $1,500 apiece to buy the Tennessee-bred at an auction in Arkansas in 1990, and the son of Slewacide and Damascus Isle has now earned $996,550 after Saturday's $412,500 victory.

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-03/sports/sp-11506_1_hollywood-gold-cup