Oak Tree Meeting at Santa Anita : Long Layoff Suits Political Ambition

Although Political Ambition hadn’t run a race in more than five months, many in the crowd of 30,367 at Santa Anita expected a big race from the 5-year-old at Santa Anita Sunday.

The longer he’s away from the races, the better he seems to run, and Political Ambition’s career pattern didn’t vary in the $112,800 Koester Handicap. A 2-1 favorite in a 10-horse field, Political Ambition proved to be the best in a four-horse photo finish, winning by a half-length over Mister Wonderful II, with a head and a nose separating the next two finishers, Sabona and Mi Preferido.

The run through the stretch was quick, but a moderate early pace resulted in less than a track record over a new grass course that has produced new speed marks almost daily since the Oak Tree season opened Wednesday. The record for the mile has been broken twice, but Political Ambition’s time in the Koester was 1:33 2/5, a fifth of a second slower than the record-setting performance by Bosphorus on Friday.

Political Ambition earned $67,800 for a dozen owners, including the Clover Racing Stables syndicate, and probably ran his way into a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 4. Political Ambition doesn’t have many points from races this year, which determine nine positions in a Breeders’ Cup race. But his trainer, Neil Drysdale, expects him to be invited because he’s beaten Steinlen, winner of the Arlington Million and the Nevada favorite to win at Gulfstream.

In Political Ambition’s last start, in the Premiere Handicap at Hollywood Park on April 30, he finished a close third behind Peace and Steinlen, but suffered a bruised left front hoof and was sent to the sidelines.

In July of 1988, shortly before he was to go to Chicago to run in the Arlington Million, Political Ambition suffered a hairline fracture in one of his legs. The injury, which healed without surgery, led to a seven-month layoff, but the son of Kirtling and Rose Pink, a Round Table mare, was ready to run upon his return. He won at Santa Anita in his comeback.

Sabona, who’s also headed for the Breeders’ Cup, probably would have finished second had he not been blocked in the stretch of the Koester.

Political Ambition paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80; Mister Wonderful returned $7 and $5 and Sabona paid $3.80. Peace, the second choice at 3-1, broke through the gate with Bill Shoemaker shortly before the start and then showed early speed before finishing ninth.

As usual, Eddie Delahoussaye rode Political Ambition, who was seventh after three-quarters of a mile while Mi Preferido, Truly Met, Sabona and Mill Native battled for the lead. Mill Native, the starting high weight at 123 pounds, one more than Political Ambition, had been away for 11 months, having had a bone chip removed from his ankle. The 1988 Arlington Million winner ran fifth.

“I figured I’d just make one run with my horse, like he wants to do,” Delahoussaye said. “I was lucky to get through. I figured if I went around, I wouldn’t have a chance. If I get through, I’m a hero. If I get trapped, I’m a bum.”

Mister Wonderful II, who broke from the No. 2 post, didn’t have good early position and then brushed with Peace coming into the stretch.

“If this horse is going to win a race, he has to be outside,” jockey Fernando Toro said. “He’s going to lose two or three lengths, maybe more, just because he won’t run when he’s inside other horses.”

Sabona was ridden by Chris McCarron. “We had some traffic trouble, but it was no big deal,” McCarron said. “This horse is trying every time he runs.”

Political Ambition, whose earnings went over the $600,000 mark, has won three of four starts this year. Last year, he started only five times, with one of his two victories in the Hollywood Invitational.

He will give Drysdale a possible five starters in the Breeders’ Cup, the others being Sabona, Prized, Rahy and Gorgeous. Disappointed before, Drysdale is thinking small. “If we just get two horses there, we’ll be lucky,” the trainer said.

Horse Racing Notes

David Flores, a 21-year-old jockey who has been one of Caliente’s leading riders, was injured in Sunday’s fifth race when his mount, Splendid Treasure, clipped the heels of Royal Approval and stumbled at the top of the stretch. Preliminary X-rays were negative, but Flores was still sore and additional X-rays might be taken. “The other filly hit my filly’s heels and fell,” said Chris McCarron, who was riding Royal Approval. “My filly lost her action and I looked back and saw Flores in the air. I’m surprised that Laffit (Pincay) and his horse (By Luci) got by without falling.” Splendid Treasure did not appear to be injured.

Pat Valenzuela, who was scheduled to ride Pranke in the Koester, was out of action for the second straight day. Valenzuela called the stewards early Sunday morning and told them he still had a stomach ailment and hadn’t been able to see a doctor on Saturday. . . . Normally dark on Mondays, Santa Anita will be running today, with a field of seven 2-year-old fillies running in the Oak Leaf. Trainer Wayne Lukas, who has won the stake four straight years and six times in the last seven years, has two starters--A Wild Ride and Earth Angel, who is making her debut. Eddie Delahoussaye has a chance to ride his third stakes winner of the season with Dominant Dancer, who has already won three stakes and was second in the Del Mar Debutante.