SANTA ANITA : Mister Frisky Runs Record to 15-0 With Wire-to-Wire San Rafael Win

Once again, there are smiles all around in Puerto Rico. Mister Frisky, the pride of the island, remains perfect.

A 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s $136,550 San Rafael Stakes, the 3-year-old ran his record to 15-0 with an impressive, wire-to-wire victory over Tight Spot and five others.

A people’s choice in Puerto Rico--2,000 came to say goodby when he left for California--Mister Frisky will try to equal Citation’s record-setting streak in the Santa Anita Derby the first Saturday of April. Citation won 16 in a row in 1948-49.

Helped by the scratches of Future Career, Tarascon and Iam The Iceman, all of whom figured to show speed, and a track that favored front-runners all day, Mister Frisky drew clear quickly, relaxed for Gary Stevens, and won by 2 1/2 lengths in a solid 1:36 3/5 for the mile.

“This is a good horse,” trainer Laz Barrera said. “Nobody believed he could run this way. A lot of people don’t believe in him because he only beat horses in Puerto Rico. When I saw him down there, I said, ‘He’s a machine.’ I got a champion from (Juan) Rodriguez (his trainer in Puerto Rico). He’s got good speed and he can get good position all the time.

“I told Gary not to get into any trouble. I told him to take the lead and improve your position. When he went to the lead, my heart started working normally. I said, ‘The party’s over.’

“People love this horse in Puerto Rico, California and New York. Everybody talks about him. He’ll probably run in the Santa Anita Derby, then go to Kentucky.”

Mister Frisky’s latest success didn’t surprise Stevens, who also rode him in his U.S. debut, the seven-furlong San Vicente.

“He just justified the qualities I thought he had and gave me more confidence for the future,” he said. “He just galloped out there. You know I’ve got a tough decision to make if Silver Ending wins the San Felipe (March 18). They’re both quality horses.

“When (Tight Spot) came up to him (approaching the stretch), he heard him and took the bit. Like a cat, he just grabbed it and hit another gear when I chirped to him. I just shook the stick. I never hit him.”

Tight Spot, an improving son of His Majesty, beat Land Rush, the 3-1 second choice, by two lengths for the place and provided further 3-year-old depth for Ron McAnally, who also trains Silver Ending and Single Dawn.

“You don’t ride many horses like this in defeat,” said Corey Black of Tight Spot. “I feel sorry he had to run into a horse like this and lose. The final time is great on this track. The winner definitely did some running.”

Land Rush, a handsome son of Nijinsky II, was 6 1/2 lengths clear of Kept His Cool. Then came Balla Cove, Individualist and Express It. Land Rush should improve considerably with more distance, and Wayne Lukas wasn’t discouraged by his effort Saturday.

“I thought he ran well,” said Lukas. “He got what he needed out of it. It looks like he’ll come back in the San Felipe. All day long, this track was favoring the speed.”

Angel Cordero, who rode Land Rush for the first time, replacing Stevens, also was happy with the effort.

“I think my horse is going to be a better horse later on,” he said. “I think he’ll be better when he gets to go farther, and when he has some pace to run at. If (Lukas) wants me to, I’d love to keep riding him. Speed was holding all day. Times weren’t that fast, but the leaders weren’t coming back to the field. The first three never switched positions.”

A native of Puerto Rico, Cordero also took time to pay some homage to the winner.

“I always thought I was the best Puerto Rican,” he said. “Now, I know I’m second after seeing Mister Frisky . . . “

Horse Racing Notes

Joe Garcia, a former Laz Barrera assistant who quit a few weeks ago, has picked up a few horses on his own, including the stakes-winning Perceive Arrogance, who was formerly trained by Barrera’s sons, Albert and Larry. . . . Rafael Meza, who broke his right hand in a workout spill Friday morning, will have surgery Tuesday and will be out 4-6 weeks. “He broke a bone in his right hand in two places,” Rich Silverstein, Meza’s agent, said. “He went to Dr. (Robert) Kerlan’s office Friday, and he’ll go back Tuesday to the outpatient clinic to have it operated on.”

Sunny Blossom, who worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 Saturday morning for Ed Gregson, will be sent to New York Monday to run in the Toboggan Handicap Saturday at Aqueduct. . . . Mister Frisky has a long way to go to eclipse the world record for most consecutive victories. Kinscem, a Hungarian filly, won 54 in a row in the 1870s. . . . Nobody was perfect in the Pick Six for the second consecutive day, so there’s a carryover of $243,967 for today. . . . Post time today is 12:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than usual.