Steinlen Seeks First Victory of Year in El Rincon Today

Steinlen hasn’t won anything since the Eclipse Award last year as the nation’s top turf horse.

He’ll try to return to the winner’s circle today when he heads a field of seven in the one-mile El Rincon Handicap on the Santa Anita turf course.

Steinlen won the inaugural El Rincon in 1988 and was third last year. Before 1989 was through, however, he had won seven of 11 starts--including the Arlington Million and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Mile--to claim the Eclipse.

In his only start this year, Steinlen was the 6-5 favorite in the Arcadia Handicap but was never in the hunt and finished seventh. Trainer Wayne Lukas said the 7-year-old was “short” for the race and also bled internally. He will be running with bleeder medication today.

If all seven start, the Grade II El Rincon will be worth $108,900, with $63,900 going to the winner.

Steinlen will be ridden by Jose Santos from the sixth post position and will carry high weight of 125.

The field, from the rail out, is: Miswaki Tern, Laffit Pincay Jr.; Shining Steel, Robbie Davis; Music Merci, Patrick Valenzuela; Wonder Dancer, Corey Nakatani; Santangelo, Kent Desormeaux; Steinlen; and Bruho, Gary Stevens.