Great Communicator Snaps Winless Streak in Russell

For one day, anyway, it was 1988 again for Great Communicator.

Winless for almost 18 months and no better than fourth in his previous starts, the Key to the Kingdom gelding showed there is still some life in his 7-year-old legs.

Showing the same tenacity he did during his finest year--which was headed by an upset victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf--Great Communicator fought off favored Polar Boy in the final sixteenth to win the $82,275 Henry P. Russell Handicap by a head Wednesday at Santa Anita.

Earner of $3,250 in his previous four 1990 appearances, Great Communicator, who went off at 12-1 Wednesday, covered the 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:58 in his first collaboration with Russell Baze.

This was also his initial start since trainer Thad Ackel made a discovery after his pride and joy finished a well-beaten sixth in the Louisiana Downs Handicap.

“We found out he was displacing his soft palate,” he said after the $27.80 victory. “Dr. Jay Addison performed a myectomy--a 45-minute throat operation--two days after the race and deserves a lot of credit.”

Polar Boy, the 2-1 choice, was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of River Warden, who was a little more than a length better than Port Washington. Pay The Butler, Green Barb, Malo Malo and Brisque completed the order of finish after Davon and College Green were scratched.

Ackel’s objective now is the Hollywood Turf Cup, a race Great Communicator won to wrap up his eventful 1988 campaign.