HOLLYWOOD PARK : Southern Truce Takes a Big Step Up

Roger Stein is probably the only person in the world whose lucky number is 16,000.

No one can blame the trainer for having a special affinity for that figure. He claimed Distant Runner, Safeera and Defend Your Man for $16,000 each and they have been his three best claims in the thoroughbred business.

Also taken for that price on March 21 was Southern Truce, and Stein hopes that she’s going to have the kind of success her forerunners in the $16,000 club enjoyed.

A 3-year-old Truce Maker filly, Southern Truce is off to a good start. She has two victories and a third in three starts for Stein and owner Peggy Johnson, with a date in Sunday’s Honeymoon Handicap next up.

The Honeymoon will be Southern Truce’s second stakes appearance--she finished sixth in Bay Meadows’ Presidio last September--and her second start on the turf. In her grass debut, the California-bred won by 4 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park on May 2.

Now, she’ll try tougher competition, but Stein is confident that Southern Truce will be a factor.

“I’m expecting her to run very well,” he said. “She’s done very, very well since her last race and when she’s worked, she’s been pretty much in hand.”

Racing exclusively in Northern California, Southern Truce took two of her first seven starts, then won wire to wire on the day Stein claimed her.

“I was really confident she would win for $25,000 down here when I claimed her,” Stein said. “Whenever something catches my eye for $16,000, I’m a little shocked. It’s kind of funny. I’ve done the most good with the ones I’ve claimed for that price.

“I ran her back much too quick (six days later she finished a distant third) after I took her. It was a foolish thing to do, and I don’t even know why I did it. It was embarrassing for me to have done it.

“I didn’t lose any confidence in her. She started to settle down and do things a lot more relaxed. She stepped up (to $32,000 on April 11) and finished in a dead heat with Fighting Melissa. What impressed me is that they were nine lengths clear of the third horse, and the time (1:36 3/5) was good over a track that was dead.”

Stein was encouraged further when Fighting Melissa returned to win an allowance race easily, and he decided to test Southern Truce’s turf pedigree. Her sire, Truce Maker, was a stakes winner over the surface.

“I was convinced she would like grass and, after watching her, I couldn’t wait to run her on turf. I was confident that day, and she didn’t let me down. Alex (Solis) said she was very manageable and he rode her perfectly. The Honeymoon may not be a top race, but it is a graded (Grade III) stakes and it’s important to us.”

Stein, a winner with seven of his 23 starters at Hollywood Park, will be at Golden Gate Fields Saturday to saddle Forty Niner Days in the $150,000 Rolling Green Handicap.

The 4-year-old son of Conquistador Cielo will face nine opponents in the 1 1/8-mile stake, which will be simulcast at Hollywood Park. Since being gelded, Forty Niner Days has won the San Francisco Mile and the All American Handicap, both at Golden Gate.

Patrick Valenzuela, who has been working the gray horse, will ride him for the first time Saturday.

“He’s either going to win by three lengths or run last,” Stein said. “He’s totally different since his last race. He’s lost his nervousness. I just hope he hasn’t lost his desire to win or his fight. When he goes out to the track, he bows his head and goes nice and easy.

“Either he’s so relaxed he’s going to dole out his speed as needed or he’s so relaxed he’s not going to care. If he has class, he’s going to be a top-notch horse. If he runs his race Saturday, he’s the horse to beat. I don’t think there’s any question.”

Trainer Humberto Aguilera was suspended for 30 days Thursday in the aftermath of an episode at Santa Anita in March when he was found to be in possession of hypodermic syringes.

The suspension will run from May 29 to June 27.

According to the official ruling from Hollywood Park stewards Pete Pedersen, Thomas Ward and Ingrid Fermin, Aguilera was suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rules 1890 (Possession of Contraband) and 1930 (Obedience to Security Officers and Public Safety Officers).

Horse Racing Notes

Laffit Pincay escaped with a sore jaw and a facial cut after being dumped by Power Full at the start of Thursday’s seventh race. After being examined at Hollywood Park’s first-aid station, Pincay took himself off Super Image, his mount in the eighth, but returned to ride Aloha Dancer in the ninth.

Rafael Meza will ride today for the first time since breaking a bone in his left arm in a spill at Santa Anita on April 19. Meza is named on longshots Natural Prime in the fourth race and I’mgladtobehere in the sixth. . . . Housebuster is the 124-pound high weight for Monday’s Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park, which will be shown locally. In Excess will carry 117, and Letthebighossroll was assigned 107.

The other Rolling Green Handicap entrants at Golden Gate Fields are Nediym, Shotiche, Jetskier, Colway Rally, My Boy Adam, Anvari, Black Monday, Admirallus and Blue Stag. . . . Prized worked an easy five furlongs in 1:04 2/5 Thursday, preparing for Monday’s Hollywood Turf Handicap.