SANTA ANITA : McCarron Scores Stakes Sweep

After completing his business at Santa Anita, Chris McCarron left Sunday night to go skiing in Utah.

The way he is going, he should be able to handle any mountain he tries.

McCarron made it a sweep of the week’s three stakes with a 7-1 upset aboard Criminal Type in the $163,800 San Pasqual Handicap. It also completed a weekend during which he won six times to take a 30-29 lead over Gary Stevens in the jockey standings.

Getting seven and eight pounds, respectively, from Present Value and Lively One, the San Pasqual favorites, Criminal Type won his first stake and third consecutive race.

A half-brother to the champion mare Estrapade, the 5-year-old son of Alydar wasn’t always willing in his youth, but he has blossomed in recent months for trainer Wayne Lukas.

“His confidence level has come up a lot while he’s been coming through the allowance races,” said Lukas, who won twice Sunday to take over the lead in the trainer standings. “I thought he had a legitimate chance, given the weights. I thought he definitely belonged in the race.

“A year ago, he was running head-to-head with winners, but he kept hanging. He’s gotten the idea now to keep going.”

McCarron, who took over for the injured Laffit Pincay on Criminal Type, said he noticed a change in him.

“Has he matured or what?” he said. “He used to be so rotten. He’s very willing right now. He’s showing his true ability.”

Lively One became a millionaire with his runner-up check of $30,000, but he couldn’t end trainer Charlie Whittingham’s 46-race winless streak at Santa Anita.

“He got floated out around the first turn,” said jockey Robbie Davis. “The outside post is no help at a mile and a sixteenth. He ran as hard as he could and he always gets a check.

“We all accelerated real strong through the stretch and I thought he could get it, but he was giving the winner eight pounds. I think he’d rather run a mile and an eighth.”

Making his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Present Value, the 13-10 favorite, set most of the pace after breaking a step slow and should be much tighter for the San Antonio Handicap in 13 days.

“I was happy,” said trainer Jerry Fanning. “He probably needed (the race) a little bit. I didn’t train him real hard.”

Attesa, the longest shot in the field at 41-1, was fourth, then came Stylish Winner, Raise A Stanza, Candi’s Gold and Avenging Force.

Seaside Attraction earned herself a spot in the restricted Santa Ysabel Stakes Feb. 12 with an impressive victory in Sunday’s third at Santa Anita.

The daughter of Seattle Slew is a three-quarters sister to Gorgeous and was purchased for $1 million as a weanling by W.T. Young’s Overbrook Farm.

After two nondescript starts in New York last September, the 3-year-old has started to perform. Recipient of a perfect trip slightly behind pacesetter and even-money favorite Summer Matinee, she took the lead with about a quarter of a mile to run. The official margin was 2 1/2 lengths and she completed the mile in 1:38 over a track that continues to be slow.

Trained by Lukas, Seaside Attraction broke her maiden at Hollywood Park early last month in her California debut, then was a well-beaten sixth in an allowance sprint Jan. 4. She bled in that race, however, and was treated with Lasix Sunday.

“The mental part has been the problem with her more than anything,” Lukas said. “She wasn’t as settled as we would have liked, but she’s come around.

“She ran a very professional race and Chris (McCarron) was impressed with her. She should be one of our better (3-year-old fillies).”

Lukas said Grand Canyon, who hasn’t been seen since he won the Hollywood Futurity, has been galloping for the last 10 days and should have a work on or before Feb. 7. “He hasn’t lost a lot,” said Lukas of the Fappiano colt, whose physical well-being has been the subject of many rumors for several weeks. “He was only away 32 days.”

The original plan was for Grand Canyon to race in the March 17 San Felipe Handicap before the Santa Anita Derby, but Lukas says he’s now considering the San Rafael Stakes two weeks earlier.

Horse Racing Notes

Bayakoa, being readied for a possible start in the $150,000 Santa Maria Handicap Sunday, worked a mile in 1:39 2/5 under Chris McCarron Sunday morning. . . . Hawkster, who has done his best work on the grass, is a probable starter in the $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes Sunday. Other probables for the 1 1/4-mile Grade I are San Fernando upsetter Flying Continental, Splurger, Secret Slew, Quiet American, Crown Collection and Exploding Prospect. Possibilities include Music Merci, who will have the services of Jose Santos if he goes, Opening Verse, Super Ready, Live The Dream and Tokatee.

Sunday Silence, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-November, is scheduled to return to light training Feb. 16 and could make his 1990 debut in the Californian at Hollywood Park. . . . The final time for the San Pasqual was 1:42 2/5 and Criminal Type paid $17.20 to win.