Whittingham Has Half the Field Sunday

Trainer Charlie Whittingham, who won the San Bernardino Handicap every other year--five times--in the 1980s, will try to start the new decade with a victory in the stake when he runs three of the six horses Sunday at Santa Anita.

Whittingham’s trio in the $400,000, 1 1/8-mile San Bernardino consists of Ruhlmann, Lively One and Payant. Trying to stop him will be Criminal Type, Annual Date and Stylish Winner.

Ruhlmann and Lively One ran 1-2 in the race last year. Ruhlmann carries top weight Sunday of 123 pounds, with Lively One assigned 121 and Criminal Type 119. There was a two-pound difference when Ruhlmann defeated Criminal Type in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4.

Whittingham’s other San Bernardino wins during the 1980s were scored by Borzoi in 1981, The Wonder in 1983, Greinton in 1985 and Judge Angelucci in 1987.