SANTA ANITA : Cheval Volant First, Maybe Not Best

Those who thought Cheval Volant’s 25-1 surprise in the Hollywood Starlet a fluke have to be rethinking their position.

Two more stakes wins have followed for the 3-year-old daughter of Kris S, the latest in the $134,400 Las Virgenes Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita.

Despite carrying high weight of 123 pounds and having the outside post in the mile race, Cheval Volant was able to beat Nasers Pride and five others in the prelude to the Santa Anita Oaks.

Covering the distance in a mediocre 1:38, the 4-1 third choice won her second Grade I stakes by three-quarters of a length under Alex Solis.

Still, even Cheval Volant’s connections would have to admit they didn’t start the best filly Saturday.

Fit To Scout, the 9-5 favorite, spent a good deal of the Las Virgenes blocked and searching for somewhere to run. Seeking her fourth consecutive victory and third in a stakes, she had to settle for fourth, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths.

“She was 100 yards the best,” said an angry Jack Van Berg, Fit To Scout’s trainer. “She got shut off 10 times. She had a horrible trip. We’ll bring her back in the Oaks (March 17) because I think she’s best.”

Chris McCarron, previously unbeaten on the Fit to Fight filly, acknowledged that the Las Virgenes won’t make any highlight films of his career.”

“She pulled me up in there (inside of pacesetter Heaven For Bid on the backstretch),” he said. “I should have let her go on. I had all the room in the world. Needless to say, I bleeped it up, boys.”

Aside from being a little wide on the clubhouse turn, Cheval Volant had an ideal trip. She moved up to Nasers Pride and the stopping Heaven For Bid nearing the quarter pole, opened up a half-length lead a furlong from the finish en route to her fifth victory in nine lifetime starts.

Bright Candles, who had some trouble of her own, was third, a half-length behind Nasers Pride.

“The outside post and high weight concerned me,” Ken Jumps, Cheval Volant’s trainer, said. “In the Bay Meadows Oaks, she ran a super race after seven weeks off. She’d trained well, so I knew we had a good filly and a good chance to win. But, 123 pounds this early in the year concerns you.

“This is her second Grade I and third stakes in a row, so I guess she’s genuine. She’s something special to me. She’s my first Grade I winner.

“She’ll most likely come back in the Santa Anita Oaks. After that, we’ve got her nominated to the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks.”

The Las Virgenes began what could be a profitable weekend for Solis. Today, he’ll be in Arizona to ride Olympic Prospect in the Phoenix Gold Cup.

“(Cheval Volant) is a lazy horse who doesn’t do much in the morning, but she worked well for this race,” he said. “I go to Hollywood Park every Saturday to work her. She worked a lot faster for this race. She’s getting more mature and she settles better.”

Nasers Pride, a 7-1 shot, almost gave Laffit Pincay a winner in his first day back. He had been out since Jan. 26 after breaking his collarbone in an exhibition harness race mishap at Los Alamitos.

“She ran really well,” he said. “I thought she was going to come back and win. I’m a little tired, but that usually happens the first day back. I’m glad I only rode two. I’m going to sleep good tonight.”

Materco, the 3-1 second choice who was lost to Cheval Volant by a neck in the Bay Meadows Oaks, was never a factor Saturday. She beat only Heaven For Bid after trailing almost all of the way.

“She wasn’t getting a hold of the track,” Eddie Delahoussaye said. “It was too loose for her. She didn’t handle it at all.”

Weights for the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap, which will be run for the 53rd time next Sunday, will be issued today.

At the moment, 10 horses are probable for the mile and a quarter Grade I, topped by Bayakoa, who, if she starts, will almost certainly be favored to become the first female to win the Big ‘Cap.

The other likely contestants are San Fernando and Charles H. Strub stakes winner Flying Continental, troubled Strub runner-up Quiet American, Hawkster, San Pasqual and San Antonio upsetter Criminal Type, Ruhlmann, Lively One, Present Value, who disappointed badly in the San Antonio, Santangelo and Stylish Winner, who ran third in the 1989 Big ‘Cap.

Santangelo, who ran second to Opening Verse in a recent allowance race, Criminal Type and Lively One were each supplemented for $25,000. Martial Law, who won the race last year at 50-1, was a supplementary entry.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Steve Miyadi was fined $750 by the stewards for a medication (theophylline) violation at Hollywood Park. The ruling was issued on Lady Charmin, who was unplaced in the first race last Nov. 24. . . . Cheval Volant is owned by Jumps, Steve Shapiro, David Stark and Bill Stratton and she has now earned $512,912.

Gary Stevens bruised a toe on his right foot when Riparia reared in the starting gate in the fourth race and he took off two mounts--Ask The Man in the fifth and Prime Concord in the ninth--of his remaining five mounts. Both won with Chris McCarron picking up Ask The Man and Alex Solis getting Prime Concord. . . . Gary Boulanger escaped injury when Official clipped heels and fell in a chain reaction incident not long after the start of the sixth race.

Vince DeGregory, who has worked for McCarron, Laffit Pincay, Angel Cordero and others, is the new agent for Ray Sibille. . . . Magical Mile, unbeaten in two starts as a 2-year-old, including an easy win in the Hollywood Juvenile, worked a mile in 1:43 1/5 Saturday morning. Where and when he makes his 3-year-old debut is still pending.