Weekend Racing at Oak Tree : Both Ends Burning Tries to Repeat

When Both Ends Burning arrived from Europe at the Santa Anita stable of trainer Neil Drysdale a year and a half ago, confusion followed.

A horse of modest ability named Burning Both Ends was also racing at the Arcadia track at the time. A reporter asked Drysdale if they were different horses. He assured him they were, describing the recent addition to his stable as “just another horse.”

Nobody, though, confuses Both Ends Burning with Burning Both Ends anymore. And Drysdale, who has been training Both Ends Burning since he came over from England, does not call his 5-year-old gelding just another horse anymore.

Sunday, Both Ends Burning will seek to become only the third horse to score a repeat victory in the $400,000 Oak Tree Invitational Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile test on the Santa Anita turf course. The only horses that have won more than one Oak Tree Invitational are the venerable John Henry, who took three straight in 1980 through ‘82, and Cougar II, who won in 1971 and ’72.

Drysdale was an assistant to Charlie Whittingham when Cougar II was in his prime and once accompanied the Chilean-bred star to New York for a stakes race. “I don’t know if you can compare Cougar II and Both Ends Burning,” Drysdale said. “Both Ends Burning has not won the race twice yet.”

True, he has not won the Invitational twice, but earlier this month, Both Ends Burning did score his second straight victory in the $100,000 Tanforan Handicap at Bay Meadows, becoming only the second horse ever to repeat as winner of that stakes.

Both Ends Burning may have a tough time Sunday, though, trying to prove that history can repeat itself--again.

The Oak Tree Invitational has an unusually strong international flavor this year. Of the 10 entrants, Talakeno and Protect Yourself are the only two that have raced exclusively in the United States. Semillero is from South America, and Alydar’s Best, Both Ends Burning, Glaros, Long Mick, Premier Role, Yashgan and Cariellor all began their careers in Europe.

Both Ends Burning, who will be ridden by Russell Baze, shares the high weight of 126 pounds with Long Mick, Talakeno, Cariellor, Yashgan and Semillero.

Long Mick won only two starts in France this year before coming to the United States. Long Mick, France’s champion 2-year-old in 1983, ran third in the June 16 Bowling Green at Belmont Park. In his last start--the Tanforan Handicap--Long Mick was fourth. Long Mick will be ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye.

Yashgan, runner-up in the Carleton F. Burke Handicap, will be ridden by Chris McCarron.

Semillero, winner of the $200,000 Louisiana Downs Handicap last Saturday for trainer Wayne Murty, will be ridden by Jack Kaenel. Talakeno will have Rafael Meza aboard.

Cariellor, a 4-year-old French-bred colt, may be Both Ends Burning’s toughest competitor. He arrived at Whittingham’s stable from New York earlier this week with two assistants to trainer Andre Fabre.

The Fabulous Dancer colt finished last in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Saturday, his first race in the United States. He won 7 of 16 starts in France. Cariellor will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela.

Glaros, a 3-year-old colt who arrived at Drysdale’s barn from France this week, will be ridden by Alain Lequeux, who won the 1980 Yellow Ribbon Invitational here aboard Kilijaro. He rode Noble Fighter to victory in the Turf Classic at Belmont Sept. 21. Glaros will carry 121 pounds.

Rounding out the field are Premier Role, 121, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Protect Yourself, 121, Sandy Hawley, and Alydar’s Best, 118, Fernando Toro.