SANTA ANITA : Mister Frisky Keeps Record Perfect

Chris McCarron was speaking for a lot of people when he yelled to Gary Stevens with about an eighth of a mile to run in the $106,075 San Vicente Breeders’ Cup Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita.

“I guess he’s the real thing,” McCarron shouted after Mister Frisky had surged past favored Tarascon in the seven-furlong San Vicente.

The pride of Puerto Rico, 13 for 13 before leaving the island, proved he can compete on the mainland.

The first 2-year-old to be named Horse of the Year in Puerto Rico since Bold Forbes, Mister Frisky defeated Tarascon by a length in 1:22 3/5, and it was another eight lengths back to Top Cash.

In front every step in almost all of his previous races, Mister Frisky, the Marsayas colt, was fourth after breaking a step slowly. He moved up to join Tarascon, the 13-10 choice, nearing the quarter pole, then took charge and provided Stevens with his fourth winner of the day.

“This is a helluva good horse,” said trainer Laz Barrera, who didn’t do badly after taking over Bold Forbes 14 years earlier. “This sucker can run.

“When my friend in Puerto Rico (Enrique Ubarri) told me he’s as good as Bold Forbes, I believed him. The day he left Puerto Rico, 2,000 people came to say goodby. That puts a lot of pressure on me.

“When Bold Forbes came, he didn’t win his first race for me. It’s a great thing for me to bring this horse from Puerto Rico and win a stakes here. There’s going to be a lot of dancing in the streets there when they find out that he won.”

Mister Frisky, the 5-2 second choice of the 30,371 spectators, will be pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby. His next appearance is scheduled in the mile San Rafael Stakes on March 3. He won at a mile and a sixteenth in Puerto Rico and Stevens said distance won’t be a problem.

“I think he’ll run all day,” he said. “The farther, the better. He can gallop two miles, and you can breeze him and he’ll still give you a strong last quarter.

“I was very excited about today. I was a little nervous. I never rode a horse with a record like this one, and his owners came all the way from Puerto Rico. I knew he was genuine after working him twice.

“He didn’t break real square; he was off balance. But, by the third jump, he was right there. I’m happy with the way the race turned out because we got to see he could relax and be rated behind (another) horse. He actually liked it. He’s definitely one of the better (3-year-olds) around.

“I just nudged him at the five-sixteenths pole and he moved up alongside Tarascon. He really shied from the noise in the grandstand. That’s why he lugged in through the stretch and, afterward, he didn’t want to gallop back.”

Tarascon, making his first start for John Franks, who purchased him from Georgia Ridder earlier this week, had no excuses in defeat.

“He sure ran his race,” McCarron said. “When I asked him to run, he felt like a jet. I couldn’t believe the other horse was still outside me.”

The San Vicente disappointment was Farma Way, who turned in his second consecutive dull effort. The Hollywood Futurity runner-up was extremely washy going to the gate when finishing last in the Los Feliz on Jan. 10, and he looked like he had been hosed down again in the post parade Saturday.

“He’s washing out every time,” jockey Ray Sibille said of the Marfa colt, who was fourth, beaten almost 11 lengths. “When he leaves the paddock, he’s a nervous wreck. He came out of the gate, but then showed no run at all.”

Ruhlmann and Present Value head the field for the $328,500 San Antonio Handicap, the major prep for the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap next month.

Away since defeating stablemate Lively One in the Native Diver Handicap Dec. 23 at Hollywood Park, Ruhlmann has a series of sharp works for Charlie Whittingham and he’s shown a fondness for Santa Anita in the past. McCarron will ride again, but a mile and an eighth isn’t really his preferred distance.

Present Value, who will get a two-pound edge from Ruhlmann, the 122-pound highweight, was third as the 6-5 favorite in the San Pasqual Handicap two weeks ago.

However, that was his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Classic and he figures to improve with the race behind him. He returned to work six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 for Jerry Fanning. The 6-year-old son of Halo should also get his preferred trip today because he is more effective from off the pace, and in the San Pasqual he was on the lead most of the way.

The rest of the lineup includes Criminal Type, who won for the third consecutive time in the San Pasqual; Payant, who has performed horribly in two outings after being away for several months; Variety Road; Complicate; Stylish Winner and Hollywood Reporter.

Laffit Pincay, who broke a collarbone in a harness mishap at Los Alamitos Jan. 26, galloped Patchy Groundfog Saturday morning for Julio Canani and said he hopes to be back soon. “I didn’t feel any soreness,” said Pincay, who was injured while competing in an exhibition race for charity. “My legs just got a little tired. I’ll get on two (this) morning. I hope to start riding again next Saturday.”

If Pincay does come back Saturday, he’ll be able to ride Bayakoa in her anticipated battle with Gorgeous in the $300,000 Santa Margarita the next afternoon.

Horse Racing Notes

Gary Stevens, who also won with Kennedy’s Knockout, Phil’s Illusion and Paisano Pete, is starting to pull away in the jockey’s race. He has 46 victories, eight more than Chris McCarron and 18 better than third-place Alex Solis.. . . Eddie Delahoussaye and Martin Pedroza both had two wins. The former won the sixth with Turbo Trick and the finale with Vysotsky while Pedroza swept the daily double with Smilin’ Smiley and Key To Ding. . . . Mister Frisky paid $7.60 to win and earned $47,325 for his owners, Solymar Stud.