Super Diamond Gets a Big ‘Cap Tuneup in San Pasqual Win

As well as Eddie Gregson can remember, he saw his first Santa Anita Handicap in 1947. Gregson was 8 years old, and so was Olhaverry, the winner of the race.

“Except for when I was at school (Stanford), I’ve seen most of the Big ‘Caps ever since,” Gregson said. “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win. It’s a race I want to win badly.”

Would a Big ‘Cap win mean more to Gregson than the Kentucky Derby, which he won with Gato Del Sol in 1982?

“Let’s put it this way,” said the 49-year-old trainer, sidestepping the question, “the Big ‘Cap ranks way, way up there.”

Gregson has never started a horse in the Big ‘Cap, but he will have one running in the $1-million race March 6. Super Diamond, an 8-year-old gelding who could match Olhaverry as the oldest horse ever to win the race, finished his preparations for the stake with a victory by a neck over Judge Angelucci Sunday in the $159,800 San Pasqual Handicap before 32,508 fans at Santa Anita.

Super Diamond and Judge Angelucci were the only starters in the five-horse San Pasqual who are eligible for the Big ‘Cap, and both are expected to battle horse-of-the-year Ferdinand and others March 6.

Super Diamond carried 125 pounds Sunday, three more than Judge Angelucci.

“We shouldn’t pick up any weight off this race, should we?” Gregson said.

He might have been thinking wishfully. It couldn’t be more than a pound, if that.

The other three starters were around Sunday merely to prevent a match race between the first two. He’s a Saros finished third, eight lengths behind Judge Angelucci. Epidaurus, winner of the stake a year ago, just missed third, and Speedy Shannon ran last, more than 15 lengths behind the winner.

Super Diamond became only the third favorite to win in 20 stakes at the meeting. He paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10, running 1 1/16 miles in an ordinary 1:43 and earning $92,300 for his owners, Roland and Ramona Sahm of Rancho Santa Fe. Super Diamond won his 15th race in 33 starts and increased his career purses to $1.1 million.

Laffit Pincay, who had Super Diamond in fourth place, 5 1/2 lengths behind Speedy Shannon, after a half-mile, won for the first time since he injured his back in a spill Dec. 27 at Santa Anita. Pincay resumed riding Saturday.

Judge Angelucci disposed of Speedy Shannon on the turn and then, just as he did in the Breeders’ Cup Classic against Ferdinand and Alysheba, tried to fight off the late speed. He almost did, but Super Diamond, responding to Pincay switching his stick from the right to the left hand at the sixteenth pole, overhauled Judge Angelucci in the final yards.

Gregson thought Judge Angelucci ran a gritty race, and so did Pincay.

“I thought I was going to open up and win easily,” the jockey said of his ride on Super Diamond. “But he got to the lead and started to wait a little. He’s one of the best handicap horses I have ever ridden. He’s always going to be a tough horse to beat, because he always tries.”

Charlie Whittingham, who saddled both Judge Angelucci and Epidaurus, would have felt better if the Judge had not had to battle Speedy Shannon, a one-time claimer, for the lead for three-quarters of a mile.

“It might have made the difference,” Whittingham said. “That other jockey (Sandy Hawley) was pumping all the way with his horse. If my horse could have gotten to the front by himself, we might have been able to slow it down a little.”

Eddie Delahoussaye, who won four races Sunday, lost another photo besides the one with Judge Angelucci.

“My horse got a little tired,” Delahoussaye said. “He came back on and then weakened in the last 10 yards. For a moment, I thought he was going to come back and get the winner. That Super Diamond is a tough, old horse. You’ve got to give him credit.”

Gregson had sent out 20 starters at the meeting before Super Diamond landed him in the win column.

“They had to go (for the lead) with Speedy Shannon,” Gregson said. “He’s been winning races running that way. But I guess he did soften up Judge Angelucci a little bit for us.”

Gregson was concerned about the slow time, but at least he has Super Diamond, a sore horse most of his career, as sound as he has ever been. It’s not impossible that the trainer’s first trip to the Big ‘Cap might take him all the way to the winner’s circle as well.

Horse Racing Notes

Eddie Gregson must concentrate on the $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes, next Sunday, before he takes aim at the Santa Anita Handicap. Gregson’s Candi’s Gold is one of six probable starters for the Strub. The others are Alysheba, Temperate Sil, On the Line, Masterful Advocate and Rupperto. Grand Vizier could run if there’s mud. . . . Timely Assertion, who bled while finishing fourth in the El Encino on Jan. 3, will race with medication Saturday in the $150,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies. By Land by Sea, who upset Very Subtle in the El Encino, will try to do it again in the La Canada. Other probables are Annoconnor, Julie the Flapper and Saros Brig. . . . Stalwars, a 3-year-old colt who has impressed trainer Gary Jones, will run Feb. 10 in the Santa Catalina. Stalwars missed running in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows a week ago because of a stomach problem. . . . Charlie Whittingham’s victory with Ifrad on Saturday in the Turf Paradise Handicap came with the first horse he ever ran at the Phoenix track.