RACING ROUNDUP : McNall, Gretzky Score With a Longshot

Longshot Saumarez, purchased four months ago by Bruce McNall and Wayne Gretzky of the Kings, scored an upset victory Sunday in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s richest horse race.

Saumarez took the lead entering the stretch at Longchamps and held off challenges by Epervier Bleu and Snurge. In the Wings finished fourth.

The 3-5 favorite, Salsabil, finished in the middle of the 21-horse field, boxed in most of the way during the 1 1/2-mile race. It was Salsabil’s first loss of the year.

Saumarez’s jockey, Gerald Mosse, held on for a three-quarter length victory over Epervier Bleu, with Snurge another half-length back. The first two are French-trained, and Snurge was trained in England.

Saumarez won nearly $1 million from the purse of $1.7 million. His time of 2 minutes 29.08 seconds was far off the race record of 2:26.30 set by Trempolino in 1987. McNall, the Kings’ owner who, along with team captain Gretzky, bought Saumarez for $380,000, also owned part of Trempolino.

In wagering at Santa Anita, Saumarez returned $28.60, $11.80 and $8.80. Epervier Bleu paid $5.60 and $4.80 and Snurge returned $6.60.

McNall said he was looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Belmont Park Oct. 27. His probable entry will be Golden Pheasant, winner of the Arlington Million, but Saumarez could give him a second representative if French trainer Nicolas Clement approves.

Go For Wand, the 3-year-old filly who might challenge colts in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, scored a 4 3/4-length victory in the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.

Go For Wand was timed in 1:45 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles, breaking by two-fifths of a second the stake record set by Desert Vixen in 1973. The filly’s time was only two-fifths of a second off the track record set by Secretariat that year. Go for Wand returned $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 and earned $167,700 from a purse of $279,500 for her seventh win in eight starts this year.