Horse Racing : Pincay Urges Adored to Santa Maria Handicap Victory

Adored, a daughter of Seattle Slew, raced to a half-length victory Saturday in the 43rd running of the $106,800 Santa Maria Handicap for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Carrying top-weight of 124 pounds, Adored responded to the urging of jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. to outrun Dontstop Themusic in a prolonged stretch drive.

It was Pincay’s first win since he returned to racing Friday following the suicide of his wife two weeks ago, and the crowd of 42,500 gave him a long ovation following the victory.

Adored was making her first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup fillies and mares race Nov. 10, but the 5-year-old demonstrated her fitness by racing head and head most of the way with Dontstop Themusic. She surrendered the lead momentarily in the stretch, but then came on again in the final strides for the victory.

Adored was sent off the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60, $3.00 and $2.20. Dontstop Themusic, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, returned $2.80 and $2.20, while Lovlier Linda, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, paid $2.20 to show.

The winner raced the 1 1-16 miles in 1:42 2-5. The win was worth $61,800 to owner Ethel D. Jacobs of Forest Hills, N.Y., and increased Adored’s lifetime earnings to $734,127.

A field of five, headed by Precisionist, is entered in today’s $300,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes.

Precisionist will be ridden by Chris McCarron and was assigned 125 pounds for the 38th running of the 1-mile race for 4-year-olds. A victory would give Precisionist a sweep of the Strub Series; the colt won the Malibu Stakes Dec. 26 and the San Fernando stakes Jan. 19.

Others entered are Gate Dancer, who will be ridden by Pincay and was assigned a high weight of 126 pounds; Tsunami Slew, Eddie Delahoussaye, 119 pounds; Greinton, Shoemaker, 117 pounds, and Halo Folks, Patrick Valenzuela, 115 pounds.

If Precisionist wins, he would become the fifth horse to sweep the Strub Series. The others were Round Table (1958), Hillsdale (1959), Ancient Title (1974) and Spectacular Bid (1980).

If all five entries go to the post, the total purse will be $324,200 and the winner will collect $189,200. All five entries will add to their earnings--the runner-up gets $60,000, the third-place finisher gets $45,000, fourth-place is worth $22,500 and fifth-place $7,500.

Gary Baze, one of the most successful jockeys in the Pacific Northwest in recent years, was in serious condition in Emanuel Hospital at Portland, Ore., following surgery for injuries suffered in a spill at Portland Meadows Friday night.

Baze, 29, underwent surgery for internal bleeding and was being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit, hospital officials said.

Baze and another jockey, Russell Kingrey, tumbled to the turf after their horses collided near the quarter pole. Kingrey was examined at the hospital and was released.