Santa Anita Notebook

SANTA ANITA NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 20

by Bernard T. Moore

Last week marked the return of the sun, turf racing and jockey Patrick

Valenzuela to Santa Anita Park. While the sunshine and racing over grass were

welcomed back with open arms, the same did not exactly hold true for Mr.

Valenzuela.

No one in the sport has ever argued his abilities as a rider, but rather the

unsavory light that he tends to cast upon racing with his constant abuse of

illegal substances and his antics off the racetrack. With all of the recent

indictments and suspensions in New York, the persistent rumors of banned drugs

by trainers across the country, horseracing must walk a straight and narrow

path, now more than ever before. Efforts must be made to step up the policing of

the sport if it is to survive.

While everyone in life deserves a second chance, P Val has certainly had his

share, and racing should no longer tolerate his infantile behavior. It is time

for him to straighten up and fly right. Period.

There is no other industry that I can think of that continually shoots

themselves in the foot time and time again like racing. That has to stop if it

is to escape from the dark cloud of suspicion that seeming always lurks

overhead.

Valenzuela can make full use of his latest reprieve to help himself, and

Thoroughbred racing, as an anxious public looks on to await the outcome of this

latest saga. While we wish him well in his quest to regain some of the lost

luster of a career that was certainly headed toward the Hall of Fame, it is now

or never time for him. He must take full advantage of what must be his final

chance to resurrect what was once a very successful career.

The $150,000 San Rafael S. (G2) for three-year-olds was the first of two

graded stakes events on the Saturday card. Nearly everyone expected the 9-5

favorite Kirkendahl (Menifee), coming off a pair of sprints, to dictate the

early pace. However, when Kirkendahl was taken back to rate, SPANISH CHESTNUT

(Horse Chestnut [SAf]), under Gary Stevens, was not bashful about taking the

early lead. They would not relinquish that advantage en route to a

well-earned three-quarters-of-a-length victory over second-place finisher Iced

Out (Comic Strip). The winner fought off multiple challenges while setting the

pace, and was still well within himself as he withstood the runner-up's final

run. Texcess (In Excess [Ire]) was caught a bit wide as he began his run down

the backstretch, and finished with interest late, a length farther back in

third. Kirkendahl stalked the race along the inside and dropped back badly after

entering the stretch to finish last.

Spanish Chestnut is owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith of Lion Heart

fame, and is trained by Patrick Biancone. While Spanish Chestnut is definitely

on the Triple Crown trail, no immediate plans were made concerning the

whereabouts of his next race. His winning effort unquestionably stamped himself

as one of the top three-year-olds in California, although he has yet to face the

likes of a Declan's Moon (Malibu Moon) or Wilko (Awesome Again).

The San Fernando Breeders' Cup S. (G2) was run later the same day, and it was

an extremely contentious race to say the least. The field was paired to nine

starters as the result of three scratches, with Mass Media (Touch Gold) a slight

favorite over Imperialism (Langfuhr). When trainer Richard Mandella elected to

bypass this race with Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.), MINISTER ERIC (Old Trieste) took

full advantage of his defection to post a hard fought half-length win over an

ultra game Mass Media.

After stalking the early pacesetters, Minister Eric, with jockey Rene Douglas

aboard, obtained a tenuous lead in the stretch. He battled head and head with

the runner-up before finally asserting himself in deep stretch as he edged away

slowly. Mass Media was extremely gutsy in defeat under the returning Patrick

Valenzuela in a much-improved effort, as he once again demonstrated his

preference for racing outside of rivals. Skipaslew (Skip Away) disputed the pace

from the outset, and tired in the stretch to finish third, a head in front of

Imperialism who closed from last to finish a non-threatening fourth.

This was the first stakes victory for Minister Eric. After Mandella's

experiment with blinkers proved to be a bust in the Malibu S. (G1), he

wisely took them off and returned the grandson of A.P. Indy to a route. The

winner was given out as a Horse to Watch in this column off his fine comeback

effort back on November 17, and returned a generous $16 to his backers.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner SWEET CATOMINE (Storm Cat)

returned to competition in the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) on Sunday, and made it look

easy as she defeated four rivals to win by a decisive 2 1/2 lengths. The winner,

who has not tasted defeat since her debut effort at Del Mar, was not completely

geared up, according to trainer Julio Canani. She had missed valuable

preparation due to the adverse weather that has plagued California in recent

weeks.

If Sweet Catomine was not 100 percent ready in the Santa Ysabel, that spells trouble

for the rest of the three-year-old filly division, and maybe the boys as well.

While the final time was not all that fast, Sweet Catomine was a convincing

winner, demonstrating her superiority under David Flores to pull away from

Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) in the final yards. On London Time (Gilded Time)

finished a well-beaten third.

This race will serve as a useful springboard to the Las Virgenes S. (G1) on

February 12 going a flat mile. Sweet Catomine was bred in Kentucky by her

owners, Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod.

The El Encino (G2) featured a prohibitive favorite as well, with A. P.

Adventure (A.P. Indy) assuming the role as the overwhelming public choice.

Unfortunately, she could not deliver the goods as GIRL WARRIOR (Elusive Quality)

benefited from an astute ride by Victor Espinoza to win the 1 1/16-mile contest by a

head.

Espinoza's ground saving ride was the difference as the winner raced along

the inside while tracking the front-runners down the backstretch. When the field

straightened out for the stretch run, Espinoza deftly guided Girl Warrior

through a narrow opening along the rail to pull alongside A. P. Adventure. The

pair battled gamely to the wire, with Girl Warrior coming out on top in a gutsy

effort. It was a heartbreaking defeat for the connections of A. P. Adventure, as

this race looked like it was theirs for the taking on paper. Tarlow (Stormin

Fever) held the lead in the El Encino until midstretch and then held on to

finish third.

Although Girl Warrior was bred in Kentucky, she launched her career overseas.

She continues to exhibit radical improvement since being transferred to Neil Drysdale

and switched to the main track. Her lone defeat in California on dirt came

against males at Hollywood Park where she was a prominent pace factor, a tactic

that she does not seem to like.

A special Holiday card was conducted this past Monday and featured a

stakes doubleheader as well. First came the San Miguel S., a six

furlong sprint for three-year-olds. Six runners were originally scheduled to

face the starter, but only four of them actually made it to the post. What

the field lacked in numbers, it more than made up for in excitement as GOING

WILD (Golden Missile) frantically held on at the wire to post a nose decision

over So Long Birdie (Pioneering). It looked as though the runner-up had the

winner measured in the stretch, but he continued to lug in despite an all out

effort by David Flores to straighten his course. The wire came just in the nick

of time for Going Wild, who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas for long time clients Bob and

Beverly Lewis. General John B (Sweetsouthernsaint) came on to take third.

The result of the subsequent stakes, the Santa Ynez S. (G2), wasn't nearly as dramatic, but entertaining in its own right as SHARP LISA

(Dixieland Band) eventually pulled away from a stubborn No Bull Baby (Indian

Charlie) in deep stretch. The second-place finisher gained the lead in midstretch after tracking the front-runners down the backstretch. However, she

was no match in the end for Sharp Lisa, who boasted a strong runner-up

effort to Splendid Blended (Unbridled's Song) in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) in

December. Hot Attraction (Pulpit) closed belatedly for the show, finishing a

nose ahead of Mother (Lion Hearted), the 5-2 second choice who gave way after

setting a pressured pace.

Doug O'Neill, trainer of Sharp Lisa, indicated that he might target the

Las Virgenes for her next start. Coincidentally, Sweet Catomine has that race

circled on her calendar as well. It should be interesting to see a match-up

between the two classy fillies.

Tyler Baze continues to sit atop the jockey standings, and holds a three-win

edge over Rene Douglas in second. Jon Court holds down the third spot, with Mike

Smith and Garrett Gomez tied for fourth on the list.

Not much has changed in the trainers' race as O'Neill continues to lead Bob Baffert. Jeff Mullins catapulted himself into third spot over

the red-hot duo of Mandella and Ruben Cardenas.

The main track played favorably to early speed on Wednesday and Saturday. It

appeared to favor closers in routes on Thursday, but looked bias free the

remainder of the time. Turf racing resumed on Friday, and off-the-pace runners

dominated as one would expect.

Wednesday (1/12)

1ST – EXCLUSIVE (Golden Gear) put forth a creditable showing in his career

debut, competing in a race that quickened noticeably late. He set a pressured

pace and gave way slowly in the stretch to more experienced rivals. He should

benefit from his initial experience as Sadler rarely wins with his firsters.

Exclusive is bred for a sprint and to win early in his career.

7TH – TREVITE (Bertrando) easily dominated an overmatched preliminary

allowance field. He exhibited a surprisingly quick turn of foot to stalk the

early pace before drawing clear and can successfully handle a bump in class if

properly spotted.

Thursday (1/13)

5TH – PRESUMPTION (Acceptable) was a sharp second switching back to dirt on

the drop. He held gamely setting a quick and pressured pace, and fits well at

this level.

7TH – WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat) was a much improved second switching back

to dirt. He secured the lead in the stretch, but yielded to a fresh closer. He

should leave this early allowance condition soon, especially if he cuts back in

distance.

Friday (1/14)

4TH – EXCLAMATION (Capote) finished a creditable third in his grass debut off a

freshening. Rallying in company with the winner into the stretch, he was

subsequently placed in tight quarters by that rival. He is a half-brother to

three turf winners, and hails from a competent grass sire as well.

5TH – MYSTERIOUS CAT (Distinctive Cat) had a ton of run and nowhere place to

go in the stretch. He altered course to secure racing room, only to be placed in

tight quarters along the rail. He finished with good energy vs. a perfect-trip,

drop-down winner when finally clear late.

Saturday (1/15)

4TH – Iced Out closed well against the grain of a speed-biased

track after being allowed to drop too far behind early. He closed with good

energy while racing wide and has a graded stakes placing since being transferred to

O'Neill. He would benefit from some class relief.

5TH – ONE TWO PUNCH (Two Punch) was caught in tight quarters heading into the

clubhouse turn along the rail. She threw her head into the air when forced to

steady sharply but finally relaxed down the backstretch before looming a

dangerous presence in the stretch. She weakened under pressure in a race she

obviously needed.

Sunday (1/16)

8TH - AL YAFIL (Aus) (Secret Savings) showed a much improved turn of foot to

stalk a hot pace off a layoff. She dropped back when she lacked room in the

stretch and came again to grab the show late.

Monday (1/17)

8TH - No Bull Baby gave the Grade 1-placed Sharp Lisa

all she could handle in the stretch before grudgingly giving way late. She

definitely appears to be better suited to a sprint as this effort would

indicate.