Horse Racing at Santa Anita : Greinton Finishes a Neck Ahead of Precisionist

None of the people connected with the English-bred Greinton--owners Mary Jones Bradley and Howell Wynne and trainer Charlie Whittingham--know what the horse’s name means.

“We bought him in Europe (for a reported $550,000) last year, and it was never explained what Greinton means,” Bradley said.

What Greinton means is business when Whittingham puts a saddle on his back. The 4-year-old colt came out winning late last year at Hollywood Park, taking his first three U.S. starts. And, after a string of three seconds this year, Greinton found the brass ring again Saturday at Santa Anita, beating Precisionist by a neck and Al Mamoon by a head in the $257,300 San Bernardino Handicap before 52,121 fans.

Greinton’s victory, worth $117,300 to Bradley, Wynne and Whittingham, who also owns part of the horse, came with Laffit Pincay regaining the mount. Pincay is now 4 for 4 with the horse, while Bill Shoemaker and Chris McCarron rode him to those second-place finishes in the San Fernando and Strub stakes and the Santa Anita Handicap. It was Precisionist who beat Greinton in both the San Fernando and the Strub.

Whittingham, celebrating his 72nd birthday with his 10th stakes win of the year and his eighth in a $100,000 race, was asked if Pincay fits the horse.

“Pincay fits any horse,” Whittingham said.

With Somethingwonderful scratched, the 1 1/8-mile San Bernardino was reduced to six starters, with Champion Pilot running as part of a Whittingham-trained entry.

The Whittingham pair were 4-5 favorites, and it was Champion Pilot who outbroke the speedy Precisionist and set the early pace. Those two ran first and second down the backstretch, with Hula Blaze and Greinton in the next two positions.

On the turn for home, Pincay got Greinton moving on the outside. Champion Pilot was finished, but Al Mamoon became a factor on the far outside. Precisionist grudgingly gave up the lead to Greinton inside the sixteenth pole.

Greinton, timed in 1:47, paid $3.60, $2.10 and $2.10. Precisionist returned $2.20 and $2.10, and Al Mamoon’s show price was $2.10.

“Precisionist ran a hell of a race,” Whittingham said. “I considered scratching Champion Pilot, but the owners (Summa Stable) wanted (him) to run, and as it turned out, we might not have won with the other horse if he hadn’t established the early pace. I still have the feeling that Greinton might be better on the grass (his first three U.S. wins were on turf and he’s 6 for 8 lifetime on grass), so we’ll find out at Hollywood Park.”

Carrying 127, Precisionist spotted Greinton seven pounds. The weights were a sore spot before the race for Precisionist’s owner, Fred Hooper, and the colt’s trainer, Ross Fenstermaker. And, after the race, McCarron, who rode the horse, made it unanimous.

“It was too much weight for my horse to carry,” McCarron said. “He had to give an awfully nice horse (Greinton) seven pounds.”

Trevor Denman, the Santa Anita announcer, mentioned the difference in weights as Greinton and Precisionist crossed the finish line. Hearing the call on a television rerun in the jockeys’ room, McCarron yelled at the screen: “Tell ‘em, Trevor!”

Today, for the $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap, Whittingham trains four of the seven entries--Air Distingue, Reine Mathilde, Estrapade and Fact Finder.

“Estrapade won’t start,” Whittingham said Saturday. “She’s got 128 pounds (top weight), so I can wait to run her next week (in the $300,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap a week from today when she’ll get only 120. Why run at 128 when you can run at 120?”

Charlie Whittingham didn’t have to wait until his 72nd birthday to get smart.

Horse Racing Notes

Rascal Lass, trained by Lin Wheeler and ridden by Ray Sibille, went from Santa Anita to Arkansas and was an upset winner by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Outstandingly, last year’s 2-year-old filly champion, finished seventh. It was Sibille’s second win in the Fantasy in the last four years. He rode Flying Partner to victory in 1982. . . . Prince True has been assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the San Juan, followed by Dahar at 122. Other horses invited are Majestic Shore, Scruples, Estrapade, Western, Pine Circle, Tsunami Slew, Swoon, Rake, Fatih and Fact Finder. . . . William Allen, one of Wild Again’s owners, said Saturday that the Breeders’ Cup Classic Stakes winner’s quarter crack has almost healed. Wild Again, who hasn’t run this year, will be shipped at the end of April to Belmont Park. His schedule calls for the fall handicap series at Belmont followed by the Breeders’ Cup at Aqueduct Nov. 2.