DEL MAR : Challenging Bayakoa Figures to Be a Tough Task for Quiet American

If Gary Jones had his way, Quiet American would have started his comeback Friday.

The trainer entered the 4-year-old Fappiano colt in an allowance race Wednesday morning, but there was a slight problem. “I think he was the only one in there,” Jones said.

Since walkovers are frowned upon, Quiet American will instead make his first appearance since April 14 in today’s $158,300 San Diego Handicap.

The horse to beat is one Jones is used to chasing. Bayakoa, who beat Jones’ Fantastic Look in Hollywood Park’s Hawthorne and Milady handicaps, will be the prohibitive favorite in the Grade III race at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Not wishing to spot Gorgeous four pounds in the Vanity Handicap last month at Hollywood Park or try his Eclipse Award-winning mare on the turf in last week’s Palomar here, Ron McAnally decided on another try against the boys with Bayakoa.

Her last battle with males is one McAnally would just as soon forget. The 6-year-old daughter of Consultant’s Bid was last, beaten by 29 lengths, in the Santa Anita Handicap.

The San Diego field isn’t nearly as imposing, but Bayakoa’s last Del Mar appearance also won’t make any career highlight film. The odds-on choice in the Chula Vista Handicap last Sept. 2, she was sixth of six, 15 lengths back.

Double-teamed by other speed types right after the start that afternoon, owner Frank Whitham’s $2-million mare figures to get a much softer trip today against Quiet American, Bosphorus, Kunjar, Annual Date, Charlatan and Leger Cat. She’s also more willing to rate these days.

Idle since winning the Milady by more than two lengths June 16, Bayakoa has had two solid workouts over the track. She ran seven furlongs in 1:25 July 26, then went five in :58 4/5 Wednesday.

“She loves this track,” McAnally said. “She got sandwiched between two fillies (in the 1989 Chula Vista) and they set it up for Goodbye Halo. In the Santa Anita Handicap, I ran her back too soon.”

The 5-2 second choice in the Big ‘Cap behind Bayakoa, Quiet American bled and finished eighth, 14 1/2 lengths behind Ruhlmann. Then, as the 1-2 choice in the Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Golden Gate five weeks later, he was last, beaten by 20 lengths after stumbling at the start.

“He fell on his head and damn nearly fell down completely,” Jones said. “He strained his back. Then, when I started back with him, he popped gravel out of one of his front feet.

“He’s coming up to the race pretty good. He’s put on a lot of weight. He’s a lot more robust, a lot fuller horse.”

Before his consecutive disasters at Santa Anita and Golden Gate, Quiet American appeared ready to become a force in the handicap division. A maiden after three races in England, Quiet American won his first two starts in this country, then, in the opinion of many, was best when defeated by half a length by Flying Continental in the Charles H. Strub Stakes.

“Basically, all he’s done is beat Stalwars by 6 1/2 lengths (in an allowance race at Santa Anita Dec. 30), and now he’s being thrown in against Bayakoa,” Jones said. “My thoughts about him are very reserved. We’re asking him to do an awful lot, and the jury’s still out on just how good a horse he is. He’s had a lot of setbacks and bad luck, so we’ll see.”

McAnally could win both stakes at Del Mar this weekend because Tight Spot is the likely choice in Sunday’s $107,600 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Bred to enjoy the grass, the 3-year-old His Majesty colt won the Star Dust in his first try on the surface June 22 at Hollywood Park. He went to the lead at the start and won by two lengths over Predecessor and Kept His Cool.

Others entered in the prep for the Del Mar Derby later in the month are Predecessor, who will be making his third start of the meeting; Green’s Leader, fourth in the first division of the opening-day Oceanside; Music Prospector, who hasn’t run on the grass since leaving Ireland last summer; Forest Glow, the 12-1 upset winner in the second division of the Oceanside; Itsallgreektome, who won the Spotlight and Will Rogers on the Hollywood Park turf, and Barton Dene.

The most impressive winner on Friday’s program was Pit of Gold, a 2-year-old daughter of Strike Gold making her first start in the fourth race.

Running with a $32,000 claiming tag, Pit of Gold romped home by 14 lengths while running the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 under Rafael Meza. Trained by Art Sherman, who is based in Northern California, Pit of Gold was bet down to 9-5 after opening at 5-1 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line. Reportedly, at least one trainer was prepared to claim her, but there were no takers.

Later in the program, Princess Royalty, who was claimed for $32,000 last December when she won her debut by 16 lengths, went wire to wire in the $63,450 Fleet Treat Stakes.

Ridden by Pat Valenzuela, who won three times Friday, the 3-year-old Slew’s Royalty filly beat She’s a V.P. by two lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5. Owned by Martin and Eileen Alpert and trained by Jerry Fanning, Princess Royalty has now won four of her seven races.

Horse Racing Notes

Robbie Davis, who hasn’t ridden since Monday, may be out for as long as two weeks. He injured his back while pulling up a horse Monday. . . . Perceive Arrogance, who was being prepared for the San Diego Handicap, has been retired after pulling a suspensory ligament. Perceive Arrogance finished second in the 1989 Strub and earned $335,490 for owner George Laken.