SANTA ANITA : Hail Atlantis Might Get Derby Shot

Running a filly in the Santa Anita Derby and coming back a month later in the Kentucky Derby worked once for Wayne Lukas, so will he try it again?

Hail Atlantis’ seven-length victory in the $212,800 Santa Anita Oaks Saturday had Lukas thinking about another Winning Colors parlay.

“I might have to take a hard look at supplementing her to the Santa Anita Derby,” Lukas said. Such a move would cost $20,000, which would be due three days before the April 7 race.

“I’m definitely going to call Tom Meeker (Churchill Downs president) and put in her name (for the Triple Crown series for a $3,000 fee). She’s on her way to the Kentucky Oaks, but I would like to be sitting there (the) Friday (before the Derby) with the option.”

To mention any derby or the Kentucky Oaks in connection with Hail Atlantis would have been ludicrous last year.

She was beaten 21 lengths in her debut in July at Hollywood Park. A couple of weeks later, she finished fifth, 20 1/4 lengths behind. Stretching out 15 days later, she showed brief speed, then was eased when she bled.

Since returning Jan. 6, the 3-year-old Seattle Slew filly hasn’t been worse than second in five starts.

Making her stakes debut in the Grade I Oaks, Hail Atlantis easily took the lead with a :22 4/5 first quarter, then simply extended it under Gary Stevens. She was timed in 1:43 flat for 1 1/16 miles.

Her stablemate, Bright Candles was second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 13-10 favorite Fit To Scout, who never fired after her much-troubled trip in the Las Virgenes three weeks earlier. She was a neck better than Cheval Volant, whose stakes-winning streak ended at three.

In winning for the third time in eight career appearances, Hail Atlantis provided Lukas with his third consecutive victory in the Santa Anita Oaks and Stevens with his fourth in a row.

“What a stride this filly’s got,” said Stevens, whose other triumphs came aboard Timely Assertion, Winning Colors and Imaginary Lady. “She reminds me a lot of (Kentucky Derby winner) Winning Colors. She has the same kind of action.

“She was just loping out there. She’s a long-skipping thing, rates herself and still reserves something for the stretch. I’ve noticed dramatic improvement in each of her last four races.

“She knows where the quarter-pole is. When she drops her right lead, she goes to running.”

Stylish King’s 1990 debut was over before it really started.

The highly-regarded son of Roberto, who had been training superbly for his first race as a 3-year-old, was eliminated at the start. He finished sixth at 7-10 odds.

On the sidelines since he finished fourth at 4-5 in the Hollywood Prevue Dec. 6 at Hollywood Park, Stylish King veered out at the break, bumped solidly with Blue Gum, and that was basically it for those two in a race won by 11-1 shot Hawaiian Pass.

“The only thing I could see was that his left hind leg wasn’t set under him,” Eddie Delahoussaye said. “He felt fine to me because his front legs were straight. When he broke, he lost that foot and fell to his right.”

Delahoussaye added that Stylish King, who was considered a Santa Anita Derby possibility, seemed fine coming back afterward.

Horse Racing Notes

Kent Desormeaux, who has made his way into the top 10 locally, won’t be at Santa Anita two days next week. He will be in Baltimore Wednesday for a hearing regarding a disputed purse and, on Sunday, will ride Passing Ships in a race in Saudi Arabia. . . . Prepping for the San Bernardino Handicap April 1, Santa Anita Handicap winner Ruhlmann worked five furlongs in :58 4/5 Saturday morning. Olympic Prospect, who disappointed when heavily favored in the Phoenix Gold Cup, went the same distance in 1:00 2/5. He is scheduled to return in the Potrero Grande Handicap April 4.