Record Turnout Sees Louisiana Slew Win Opener at Oak Tree

Louisiana Slew’s winning performance at Santa Anita Wednesday was not enough to evoke memories of his sire, Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown champion. The real star on opening day at Oak Tree was the record crowd of 60,002, which may have proved that radio isn’t dead.

Lured by perfect weather and the chance to get a free portable radio, the crowd smashed Oak Tree’s attendance record by almost 5,000, breaking a mark that was set on a Sunday three years ago.

The turnout exceeded even the most optimistic estimates by Santa Anita officials.

“Somebody asked me what other sport would draw this big of a crowd in Los Angeles on a Wednesday afternoon,” said Alan Balch, vice president for marketing at Santa Anita. “The only thing I can think of is the Dodgers for an opening day, or if they were in the playoffs or the World Series.”

Asked to explain the big crowd, Balch said: “In marketing, there’s no one answer for anything. I think this was a combination of things. The giveaway, and the curiosity fans had about the in-house station that they can listen to on their radios for racing news through the course of the afternoon.

“A major reason is a continuation of the good seasons they had at Del Mar and Pomona, and the fact that a lot of people were anxious to get back to Santa Anita.”

Although Louisiana Slew’s margin over a charging Snow Chief was only a neck in the $83,800 Sunny Slope Stakes, trainer Wayne Lukas made no apologies for the 2-year-old colt, who cost Louisiana Sen. J.E. Jumonville Jr. $2.9 million as a yearling.

The win was Louisiana Slew’s second in three starts and his first in a stake. “It was the first time he’s gone this far (seven furlongs), and he got tired at the end,” Lukas said. “With only two starts under his belt, he had a license to get tired. But the other horses got tired, too.”

In the stretch run, jockey Alexis Solis ran out of real estate with Snow Chief in the middle of the track. Otherwise it looked as though Snow Chief, the second betting choice behind Louisiana Slew by only a few thousand dollars, would have caught the winner.

“My colt started slow and I didn’t rush him,” Solis said. “By the three-eighths pole, he was flying. A little farther and he wins.”

Louisiana Slew, earning $49,600, was timed in 1:23 3/5, the same time that won a 2-year-old filly race earlier on the card. The winner, who led all the way, paid $6.60, $3.80 and $3. Snow Chief, who had finished third in the Del Mar Futurity in his last start, paid $3.40 and $2.60. In the field of eight, he finished 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Don B. Blue, who paid $3.40 to show.

Pat Valenzuela, who rode Louisiana Slew, said the colt can go farther, which he’ll need to do in his next start, the 1 1/16-mile Norfolk Stakes Oct. 13.

“He didn’t get much out of his first race (an easy win over maidens at Del Mar Sept. 1), and that made him tired when he ran second at Bay Meadows (Sept. 12),” Valenzuela said. “He was also pretty weary today, but he hung on tough. He rated well, though, and should be able to get a distance.”

Trainer Mel Stute was pleased with Snow Chief’s effort after he had raced in the middle of the pack down the backstretch. “We just weren’t quite quick enough,” Stute said. “We’ll try the winner again when he has to go a little farther.”

The stakes win was the 56th of the year for Lukas’ far-flung stable, which also has divisions in New York and Kentucky. The old stakes record was 46, set by Jimmy Jones of Calumet Farm in 1952.

“Our goal for the year is 60,” Lukas said. “The money-winning title (the stable leads the country with more than $7 million) is also important, but I don’t think that’s as much of an achievement as the stakes thing. There’s so much more money to shoot for now than there used to be. But winning a stakes race--that’s tough no matter what the year is.”

Racing Notes Gary Stevens rode three winners. . . . In the fifth race, Darrel McHargue rode Mountain Bear to a $135.40 upset, which set up a $4,183.50 exacta. An Englishbred, Mountain Bear had run only twice in the United States and hadn’t started since last November. . . . Seattle Slew, who won the 2-year-old title in 1976, made only three starts that year, winning all of them, including the Champagne Stakes.