HOLLYWOOD PARK : On Trust Was Good but Frustrating

Today’s On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park honors the memory of one of California’s most popular thoroughbreds. He was also one of the most frustrating.

A foal of 1944, On Trust was bred and owned by Earl O. Stice, the original “Earl of Plumbing,” and was trained by Hall of Famer William Molter. The chestnut son of Alibhai won more than half a million dollars and 11 stakes, including the 1947 Santa Anita Derby.

But the races On Trust failed to win will always haunt his legacy. Were it not for a handful of necks, heads and noses, On Trust would have been ranked among the greatest horses of the modern era.

Among the races On Trust just missed winning were the Preakness Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Sunset Handicap, Santa Anita Maturity (precursor to the Strub Stakes), San Antonio Handicap, San Felipe Handicap and Cinema Handicap. In all, On Trust finished either second or third in 23 stakes from 1946 to 1950.

In one of his most memorable performances, On Trust led Noor and Citation on a merry chase in the 1950 Golden Gate Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. With a quarter of a mile to run in the 1 1/4-mile race, On Trust still led by seven lengths. Then he was swallowed in the stretch by the two giants, finishing third, as Noor went on to set a world record of 1:58 4/5 for the distance.

Johnny Longden rode Noor that day, but he was the regular jockey for On Trust in 1947 and ‘48, the colt’s best years.

“He was a funny horse to ride,” Longden recalled from his Arcadia home. “He had a lot of speed, but he wanted to pull himself up whenever he made the lead. Would just prick his ears and wait for horses. He got beat that way a lot of times when he should have won.”

According to Longden, that is precisely what happened when Faultless caught On Trust at the end of the 1947 Preakness.

“I rode him in the Derby that year, too,” Longden said. “Finished fourth to Jet Pilot. And I had a chance to ride the winner. Mrs. (Elizabeth) Graham offered me $25,000 to ride Jet Pilot, but I’d already made a commitment to On Trust.”

There is certainly no On Trust among the 11 California-bred runners in today’s edition of the race. But the one whose record comes closest to the spirit of close-but-no-cigar is Reconnoitering, a 5-year-old gelding.

In 49 career starts, Reconnoitering has won nine races, and finished second or third 17 times.

“This guy never gets the respect he deserves,” said Chuck Marikian, who trains the son of Naskra. “I mean, he hardly ever misses picking up a check. And he’s won more money ($411,445) as a pure sprinter than most Cal-breds I can think of.”

After 35 consecutive starts at seven furlongs or less, Reconnoitering will be stretching out to a one-turn mile in the On Trust. The only other time he ran that far, he finished last in the 1987 Oceanside Stakes on the turf at Del Mar.

Reconnoitering’s opposition includes Northern California invader Variety Road, Earl Scheib’s He’s a Saros, No Commitment, Just as Lucky, Stylish Winner and the 3-year-olds Bruho, Mr. Bolg, On the Menu and Gum.

Fernando Valenzuela paid his first visit to the counselors at the race track’s Winner’s Foundation on Wednesday and left convinced that he can make a successful comeback when his 60-day drug suspension ends in January.

“I lived the first 19 years of my life without drugs,” said Valenzuela, who turned 20 last June. “And you can be sure I’m going to live the rest of my life without them now.”

Valenzuela’s suspension--based on a positive urine test for cocaine and marijuana--was handed down less than a month after his cousin, Patrick Valenzuela, was hit with a similar 60-day ban. Since his suspension was announced last Saturday, Fernando has heard enough comparisons to last him a lifetime.

“I’d hear things like, ‘How could you? Didn’t you see what happened to Patrick?’ ” Valenzuela said. “But I’m not Patrick. Whatever mistakes he made, he can’t blame me. And whatever mistakes I made, I can’t blame him. We’re the same blood, but different people.”

Valenzuela describes his drug use as “recreational” and “occasional,” but he does not try to minimize its effect.

“I was in trouble, I know it,” he said. “It was supposed to be fun, but it wasn’t. And it almost ruined my life. Now I’d be crazy if I ever let something like this happen again.”

After spending Thanksgiving weekend with his parents in San Diego, Valenzuela plans to return home to Arcadia and begin exercising horses mornings at Santa Anita. He is not allowed access to the grounds at Hollywood Park during the current meeting.

“I’ve got 57 days left and, believe me, I’m counting them,” Valenzuela added. “I come back on Jan. 17, my mother’s birthday. I can’t think of a better present.”

Horse Racing Notes

Post time at Hollywood Park today is 11 a.m., with a free turkey dinner awaiting each patron. . . . At the Fair Grounds in Louisiana, they are passing out free pick-six tickets instead of a Thanksgiving meal.

Real estate developer Sherwood Chillingworth has been elected to the Oak Tree Racing Assn.’s board of directors. The 63-year-old native of Hawaii joins Clement Hirsch, Georgia Ridder, William Pascoe and Dr. Jack Robbins, after the deaths of directors Louis Rowan and Harold Ramser in the past year. Chillingworth has owned a piece of the major stakes winners Swing Till Dawn, Forzando, Valley Land and Yashgan, who won the 1985 Oak Tree Invitational.

Stephen Guise, formerly with Chemlawn, has been hired for the newly created position of turf course superintendent at Santa Anita.