El Cajon Stakes : Nostalgia’s Star Recovers for First Win of Year

Nostalgia’s Star returned to racing Saturday after a two-month layoff because of a virus and did something he hadn’t done since 1984 . . . win.

The Jay M. Robbins-trained colt won the $50,000-added El Cajon Stakes, a race for 3-year olds, in front of a crowd of 22,676 Saturday at the Del Mar Race Track. Nostalgia’s Star responded to jockey Eddie Delahoussaye’s urging in the stretch and beat Flitcraft by three-quarters of a length.

Nostalgia’s Star, the even-money favorite, paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.40. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on the main track in 1:41. It was the fastest 1 1/16 mile race of the season. Flitcraft, ridden by Gary Stevens, paid $4.60 and $3.00. Little Missouri, with jockey Chris McCarron aboard, finished third and paid $2.40.

Despite not having won in 10 starts, Nostalgia’s Star, owned by A.C. Fred Duckett, Mary Jane Hinds and Margaret Robbins, was clearly the class horse in the race. Delahoussaye tucked the winner in on the rail behind the pacesetters, All Hands On Deck and Flitcraft.

Entering the final turn, McCarron raced Little Missouri up outside the leaders. Nostalgia’s Star, the son of Nostalgia and Aunt Carol, appeared to be boxed between horses entering the stretch but found room outside Flitcraft when the horses straightened out. Little Missouri finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Flitcraft. All Hands On Deck finished fourth, another two lengths back. Schiller was fifth in a field of five.