SANTA ANITA : Soweto Pads McCarron Stakes Total

Chris McCarron is going to be sorry to see Santa Anita’s meeting end Monday.

With five days remaining, he has wrapped up his third riding title at Arcadia, his 108 victories putting him 22 ahead of runner-up Gary Stevens.

McCarron also has 14 stakes victories after Soweto outfinished 22-1 shot Mr. P. And Max to win the $83,850 La Puente Stakes Wednesday.

The 9-5 favorite, Soweto overcame a less-than-alert start and won by a half-length in 1:49 for the 1 1/8 miles on the turf. This was the second victory in five U.S. starts for the 3-year-old Kafu gelding.

Making his first start on the grass, Mr. P. And Max set the pace through some slow fractions--24 4/5, 49 3/5 and 1:13 3/5 for six furlongs--then battled back when challenged by Soweto and saved the place by a half-length over Triple Alpha, the 3-1 third choice.

“He finally got a trip,” McCarron said of the winner, who had been fifth in his previous three outings. “He hasn’t had any racing luck since the last time I rode him at Hollywood (in his successful U.S. debut).

“The last time (Feb. 15), it was a walking pace, and he got away from me. Finally, he got into the clear where he could do some running today.”

Winner of two of his six starts in England before coming to this country, Soweto finished fast in a March 29 allowance race, his last start before the La Puente. He was beaten by less than two lengths after trailing early behind a slow pace.

“He would have been the winner last time if he’d gotten through (inside),” trainer Darrell Vienna said. “The race before, he wasn’t doing that well, and I almost didn’t run him. After that, he started looking better.

“He ran the same type of race last time but couldn’t get through. Chris knew to stay outside with him (this time). He runs better there, but most of them do.”

Mizter Interco, the 5-2 second choice, was fourth; then came Majestic Class, Worry Free, Magnificent Red, Keen Line and Ice In Space. Le Farouche was scratched.

Jockey Fernando Valenzuela, Pat Valenzuela’s cousin, has been suspended for 180 days by the Golden Gate Fields Board of Stewards after testing positive for cocaine.

Valenzuela, 21, called in April 5, asking to be taken off his mounts, then was told to take a drug test April 7. This was the second time Valenzuela had tested positive for cocaine. He was suspended by the Hollywood Park stewards in 1989.

Tied for fifth in the standings when he was suspended, Valenzuela will be on suspension until Oct. 9.

Pat Valenzuela was given a six-month suspension late last year and he is eligible to return May 11 at Hollywood Park. He was also suspended in the fall of 1989 after testing positive for cocaine.

Corey Nakatani ranks only seventh in the Santa Anita standings, but no rider has been hotter.

Nakatani, 20, had four stakes victories in seven days, capped by Lite Light’s beating of the previously undefeated Withallprobability in Sunday’s Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Before that, there were victories on Pharisien in Santa Anita’s El Rincon Handicap, on Letthebighossroll in Golden Gate Fields’ Piedmont Stakes and on Green Alligator in the California Derby. He has also moved into the top five among jockeys in the national money standings.

Horse Racing Notes

Bayakoa will make the final start of her career Friday in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. The race will be simulcast between Santa Anita’s fifth and sixth races. A victory would enable Bayakoa to surpass Lady’s Secret in career earnings and become the richest female thoroughbred. Laffit Pincay will ride the 125-pound highweight, who has five opponents--Charon, Degenerate Gal, A Wild Ride, Fit To Scout and Timber Ribbon. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye will leave Friday morning for his ride on Olympio Saturday in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby. . . . Chris McCarron, Gary Stevens, Alex Solis and David Flores each rode two winners Wednesday at Santa Anita.