Weekend Racing at Del Mar : Short Sleeves Rated a Cut Above

Trainer Darrell Vienna still can’t figure out why his mare, Short Sleeves, runs so fast. She’s the slight favorite in today’s featured $110,200 Palomar Handicap at Del Mar over 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

To Vienna, Short Sleeves has never really looked like a winner.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “I’m still amazed looking at her stature and physique to think that she would be a good horse.”

The 6-year old English-bred mare is petite, weighing only about 800 pounds, 300 less than most thoroughbreds.

But what Short Sleeves lacks in size, she makes up in speed. She has won 9 of her 19 races and has earned $376,707.

This summer, after an 8 1/2-month layoff, she returned to Del Mar in winning fashion Aug. 3, taking a mile allowance race on the turf by 4 lengths in 1:34 4/5.

Today, Vienna said, jockey Russell Baze will try to hold Short Sleeves in the middle of the pack until the stretch run. She has a history of high finishes running off the pace.

In the Palomar last year, Short Sleeves was quick out of the gate and led for the first 6 furlongs, but she tired and finished last in a field of nine. But in last year’s Osunitas and Ramona handicaps, she broke late and won.

Two fillies, Chapel of Dreams and Davie’s Lamb, will probably give Short Sleeves formidable competition today. Chapel of Dreams has 4 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds in 12 starts. Davie’s Lamb has 8 victories, 3 places and 10 shows in 30 races.

Vienna isn’t particularly concerned with the rest of the field.

“I think that I’m running a horse that’s much the best,” he said.

Sunday’s $213,200 Cabrillo Handicap, at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, features a horse of altogether different shape, size and character.

Precisionist, a 7-year-old with earnings of more than $3.1 million, is tall, weighs about 1,200 pounds and is the heavy favorite.

After a successful early career--including a 1985 Eclipse Award as champion sprinter--Precisionist was put to stud for two seasons. When he had trouble getting his mares in foal, owner Fred Hooper decided to bring him back to the track this year. So far, his races haven’t lacked excitement.

On June 29 at Hollywood Park, he crossed the finish line first but had thrown his jockey, Chris McCarron, coming out of the starting gate. Epidaurus, who finished with his jockey, was the winner.

Precisionist fared better with McCarron on for the distance in a mile allowance race Aug. 1 at Del Mar, breaking a 25-year-old track record by 2/5 of a second running 1:33 1/5.

Running against Precisionist will be Epidaurus, with Bill Shoemaker riding; Conquering Hero, with Martin Pedroza; Circus Prince with Antonio Castanon, and Speeding Light with Gary Stevens.