SANTA ANITA : Akinemod Wins by 18 in Her First Test of Distance

So much for any thoughts that Akinemod is merely a sprinter.

In her first try at longer than seven furlongs, the 4-year-old filly made a mockery of the $107,900 El Encino Stakes Monday at Santa Anita.

Under Gary Stevens, she cruised home 18 lengths in front of runner-up Luthier’s Launch. She has won six consecutive races after beginning her career with a loss.

Akinemod’s task was made easier by the scratch of Gorgeous. Rather than having Gorgeous begin her 1990 campaign on an off track, trainer Neil Drysdale elected to wait with the Breeders’ Cup Distaff runner-up.

“It’s still January and it’s a long year,” said Drysdale. “She’ll be in the La Canada (Feb. 3).”

The way Akinemod performed Monday, Gorgeous would have had to hustle. Akinemod also is expected to run in the 1 1/8-mile La Canada.

Relaxing nicely through leisurely :23 1/5 and :46 2/5 fractions, the California-bred Akinemod easily repelled a bid by Reluctant Guest approaching the far turn. From there the only suspense involved who would complete the exacta and what the final margin would be.

“I told my agent (Ray Kravagna) I should get arrested for being paid to ride that filly,” Stevens said. “She answered a lot of questions today.

“She’s unbelievable. When she was pulling up, she never took so much as a deep breath. I just eased up on her down the lane, but about 20 yards from the wire, I made her run again so she doesn’t get into the habit of wanting to pull herself up.

“She was breezing on the lead and (Reluctant Guest) came up inside her. I just tightened the reins on her and, boom. Then, she dropped the bit again and relaxed.”

Stevens was asked to compare Akinemod to Winning Colors, who carried him to victories in the 1988 Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies.

“They’re both very aggressive, more like stud horses than fillies,” Stevens said. “ . . . They both have a mind of their own and are tough actors.”

Trainer Jerry Fanning had given some thought to scratching Akinemod because of the wet racing surface, but owner Jack Klugman’s filly made the track look fast. Her final time of 1:41 1/5 equaled It’s In The Air’s 10-year-old stakes record.

“That was fun,” Fanning said. “I know she’s getting better, too. I was kind of worried about the race track. If she didn’t run well, I wouldn’t have known if it was the distance or the track.”

The longest shot in the field at nearly 22-1, Luthier’s Launch saved second by a half-length over Kelly, who trailed most of the way.

“I won the race I was in,” said Alex Solis of the runner-up. “She ran well, but the other filly is too much.”

Reluctant Guest was fourth, then came Fantastic Look, the 2-1 second choice, and Affirmed Classic.

Flying Continental, Splurger and Secret Slew, the surprising 1-2-3 finishers in Sunday’s San Fernando Stakes, all are expected to return in the $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes on Feb. 4.

Showing his affinity for the mud, Flying Continental completed a weekend stakes sweep for the tandem of owner Jack Kent Cooke and Jay Robbins. On Saturday, Raise a Stanza upset Oraibi in the San Carlos Handicap.

“(Flying Continental) came back well, although there’s still a slight filling in his leg,” Robbins said. “He’ll probably come back in the Strub.”

Music Merci, who was a distant sixth as the 2-1 favorite, also might return in the 1 1/4-mile Strub.

“He ran well on an off track before, but just didn’t take to this one,” said trainer Craig Lewis. “We’re still considering the Strub. We’ll work him in a week with Laffit (Pincay) and see.”

Annual Reunion, who was second to Cheval Volant in the Hollywood Starlet, tops the field in Wednesday’s $75,000 La Centinela Stakes at one mile.

A daughter of Cresta Rider, Annual Reunion won an allowance race in Inglewood before finishing second at 38-1 in the $500,000 Starlet. Gary Boulanger will ride for Gary Jones and she will race coupled with Bel’s Starlet, fourth in the recent California Breeders’ Champion Stakes.

Others in the field of 11 are the Wayne Lukas-trained entry of Nijinsky’s Lover and Bright Candles, Nasers Pride, fresh off an easy victory in the Bay Meadows Lassie; Fit To Scout, Nu Myoozik, Showmanship, So Happy, Lifthigh the Cross and Saros Treasure.

Horse Racing Notes

Akinemod’s victory margin wasn’t the widest in Santa Anita history. River Buoy, who flourished in the mud, won a starter allowance race by 20 lengths in January, 1973. . . . Candi’s Gold, who beat one horse in the San Carlos in his first start in 17 months, will return in the San Pasqual Handicap Jan. 28. “It was a non-event for the big horse,” said trainer Ed Gregson. “He forgot what it was like to run in the mud.”

Materco, who skipped the La Centinela Stakes, will go in the Bay Meadows Oaks Saturday. The daughter of Interco, who is trained by Mark MacDonald, rallied from far back to win the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes. The Oaks will be simulcast locally. . . . Chris McCarron and Pat Valenzuela will meet with the stewards Wednesday about an incident that occurred during Monday’s seventh race. Apparently upset about being bumped by Valenzuela’s mount, Imperial Star, McCarron, who was riding Sparrow Lake in the mile grass race, allegedly hit Valenzuela across the back with his whip, although McCarron later claimed it was accidental.