SANTA ANITA : McNall’s a Winner Off the Ice

With the Kings suffering through a disappointing season, there is some solace for Bruce McNall.

His thoroughbreds are doing just fine.

Five days after his Down Again pulled a 16-1 surprise in the Monrovia Handicap, Frankly Perfect ran down 38-1 shot Delegant to capture the $288,600 San Luis Obispo Handicap Monday at Santa Anita.

The 6-5 favorite in his first start since his dominating performance in the Hollywood Turf Cup Dec. 10, Frankly Perfect asserted his superiority in the final yards after encountering some traffic trouble along the way.

Owned in tandem by McNall and Wayne Gretzky, the 5-year-old son of Perrault covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:28 over a turf course labeled good and provided Chris McCarron with a sweep of the three weekend stakes. He won the El Conejo Saturday aboard Frost Free, then the Santa Margarita Sunday atop Bayakoa.

“He did what he was supposed to do,” said Charlie Whittingham after Frankly Perfect won by three-quarters of a length over Delegant, who is trained by his son, Michael.

“(McCarron) could have gone out on the backside, but he went inside. I said, ‘Oh, . . . !’ but he got through. I just gave him a little breather after the Hollywood Turf Cup.

“I think he’ll be a better horse this year than last year and he was a good horse last year. He acts better, he’s a little older and he’s been in the country longer. This year, we’re going to keep him on the turf. There are two more races (the San Luis Rey March 25 and the San Juan Capistrano April 22) for him at this meet.”

Seemingly trapped with just more than a quarter of a mile to go, Frankly Perfect was able to get outside, then overtook Delegant, who had opened up a 1 1/2-length lead with a furlong to run.

“He was the best horse, no question about that,” said McCarron, who won twice Monday to close to within two of Gary Stevens in the jockey’s race.

“Straightening out on the backside, I was starting to switch out to get in the clear, and, all of a sudden, everyone else went outside and I picked up three lengths like that,” McCarron said. “I was saying, ‘This is too good to be true.’ And it was.”

“I regretted the decision. It almost cost me the race. I was very lucky to get through at the five-sixteenths pole. He felt very strong, just like he did in the Hollywood Turf Cup. I’ve been on him a few times in the morning and he’s been training great.”

No better than third since he won an overnight handicap last in September at Arlington Park, Delegant almost sprang the surprise under Pat Valenzuela.

“He ran great,” Valenzuela said. “But, after watching the replay (and seeing Frankly Perfect’s trip), I don’t feel so bad.”

Just As Lucky, a 19-1 shot, was third, another half-length back. Then came Wretham, Capel Meister, Two Moccasins, Putting, Live The Dream, Drum Taps, the 3-1 second choice; River Warden, Lucky Song and Baffo.

A winner of five consecutive races in England and at Calder, Drum Taps was never prominent in the San Luis Obispo.

“The course was too soft for him,” said Jose Santos. “He’ll run a lot better next time when the course is harder.”

Bayakoa came out of her easy victory in Sunday’s Santa Margarita in fine shape, and now it’s up to trainer Ron McAnally and owner Frank Whitham whether she’ll come back in the Santa Anita Handicap March 4.

“The Whithams and I just brushed over the Big ‘Cap possibilities (Sunday night),” McAnally said. “She’s a good doer and takes her races well, but we’ll take it one day at a time.”

If Bayakoa does try the boys in the $1 million affair, it would mark her third race in four weeks. However, she won the Santa Margarita and Santa Maria without ever really being asked, so she figures to be fresh.”

Life’s Magic, who finished fourth behind Lord At War, Greinton and Gate Dancer in 1985, is the last female to have run in the Big ‘Cap, which has never been won by a filly or mare.

Horse Racing Notes

Stylish King, who went to the sidelines with shin problems after finishing fourth in the Hollywood Prevue Dec. 6, worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 Monday morning for trainer Jay Robbins. Also on the tab was Magical Mile, who was unbeaten in two starts as a 2-year-old before fracturing a knee. He went seven furlongs in 1:28 4/5 for Warren Stute. . . . Vicky Frontiere, the 28-year-old stepdaughter of Rams owner Georgia Frontiere, will make her riding debut Thursday. Just licensed, Frontiere will ride Televized in the second race, a $10,000 claimer at six furlongs. . . . Laffit Pincay, who broke his collarbone in a harness mishap last month, hopes to return Saturday. . . . Apprentice Chris Morales scored his first win at Santa Anita on 12-1 shot Midnight Interlude.