DEL MAR : Companion Faces His Toughest Test in Sunday’s Eddie Read Handicap

Companion turned in one of the meeting’s most impressive performances when he won the Wickerr Handicap 13 days ago. Owned by Allen Paulson and trained by Richard Lundy, the 5-year-old looked like a horse in big trouble when Exclusive Partner, a multiple-stakes winner and still extremely dangerous at 8, drew clear after a hole opened along the rail.

Guided through the same opening by Corey Black, Companion shifted into overdrive, surged past Exclusive Partner in the final sixteenth and was actually geared down by his rider while winning by nearly two lengths. In doing so, he ran the last eighth of a mile in about 11 3/5 seconds.

Another step in what has been a remarkable comeback continues Sunday when the Argentine-bred Companion takes on Golden Pheasant, Classic Fame and five others in the $270,250 Eddie Read Handicap, the first Grade I stake of the season.

The fact Companion is still active, let alone running in the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read against some of the nation’s best turf performers, is a story in itself.

Unbeaten in four starts in Argentina, including Group I and II races, Companion was purchased by Paulson and brought to the United States early in 1989.

A 6-1 shot in Hialeah’s Bougainvillea, he finished seventh in an eight-horse field, beaten by more than seven lengths, but he had an excuse. He suffered a bowed tendon and spent the next year at Paulson’s nearby Brookside West Farm.

Returning 15 months to the day after his injury, Companion finished second to Leger Cat in a Hollywood Park allowance race before his big effort in the Wickerr.

“It’s amazed everyone how he’s come back with the problems he’s had,” said Alex Hassinger, Lundy’s assistant. “When he came back at Hollywood, he wasn’t really sure of anything. He was a lot more confident in that second race and he was very impressive. He’s better for the Eddie Read than he was for the Wickerr.”

Companion’s tendon also seems to be holding up well, but he has had a problem with bleeding. He raced on Lasix for the first time in the Wickerr after bleeding in a workout before the July 29 race. Then, it was discovered he bled a bit in victory.

“He trickled a little bit,” Hassinger said. “But we’ve been watching him, and it didn’t really seem to hurt him. Like I said, he seems to be getting better.”

Whether he’s up to dealing with Classic Fame, who upset Steinlen in the American Handicap on July 4 at Hollywood Park, or Golden Pheasant, the 122-pound highweight who won his first two U.S. starts before flopping at even money in the Hollywood Turf Handicap, remains to be seen.

“By far, this is his toughest test,” Hassinger said. “He’s running against two of the best grass horses in the country and a couple of others who are very good.

“But (Companion) deserves every right to try because he ran so well in the Wickerr. He’s come along and has gotten better and better, and he’s gotten more confident in himself. If he beats these horses, he’s a superior horse. He deserves a chance.”

With Corey Black moving to Saratoga Passage, the defending champion in the race, Pat Valenzuela will ride Companion.

Golden Pheasant, inactive since May 28 when he was beaten by almost six lengths by Steinlen, will be ridden for the first time in the Eddie Read by Gary Stevens. Golden Pheasant worked seven furlongs in 1:27 2/5 and the roan son of Caro has already shown he can be a threat when fresh.

“There was one of two reasons for (Golden Pheasant’s last race)” said Rodney Rash, Charlie Whittingham’s assistant. “It rained the night before, and the turf was peeling away during the race. Or maybe he doesn’t want to run back in two weeks.

“The stakes schedule at Hollywood was set up in such a way we didn’t have any choice. But his only bad race in Europe, in the Arc (de Triomphe), was when he came back in two weeks. He’s been training real well recently, and we’re very pleased with him.”

Like Companion, Classic Fame has had his share of physical problems, but he has been a model of consistency since coming to trainer Gary Jones early this year. Classic Fame, a 4-year-old son of Nijinsky II, underwent surgery for colic at the end of 1988, has two victories, a second and a third in four U.S. outings. Before winning the American Handicap, he was third, beaten by a half-length, in the Inglewood Handicap and was second to Golden Pheasant in the John Henry.

The other entrants in the Eddie Read are Fly Till Dawn; Notorious Pleasure, who won last month at Hollywood Park after being away more than a year; Nediym, and Soft Machine, the race lightweight at 110 pounds.

Also on the program Sunday is the San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf. There were 20 entrants, so the race was split into divisions. Nijinsky’s Lover and Slew of Pearls top the first division, which goes as the second race, and Patches and Conteuse head the second division, which goes as the fifth race.

Horse Racing Notes

Chris McCarron, who suffered broken legs and a broken arm in a June 3 spill at Hollywood Park, might get on a horse for the first time Monday, agent Scotty McClellan said Friday. . . . Robbie Davis, who injured his back while pulling up a horse almost two weeks ago, might be back Wednesday. . . . Corey Nakatani, who suffered a broken hand after getting into an altercation with Orlando Garrido at Los Alamitos, could be back Thursday or Friday.

Sunny Blossom, who disappointed as the favorite in the Bing Crosby Handicap 13 days ago, has been flown to Maryland and will start in the $350,000 Frank DeFrancis at Pimlico next Saturday. Pat Valenzuela will ride the horse for trainer Ed Gregson. . . . Days Gone By, who was ridden by apprentice Vann Belvoir in Friday’s seventh race, was disqualified from third and placed fourth. This continued what has been a rough welcome to Southern California for the teen-age jockey, who has only one winner in 65 mounts at Del Mar. The victory came aboard Orlanova on July 27.

Great Communicator, who was a distant fifth in his comeback on July 21 at Hollywood Park, will try to turn things around today in the $81,525 Escondido Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Also scheduled to start are Valdali, Mashkour, Lowell, Miserden, River Warden, Colson, Rial and Law Journal.