DEL MAR : Plans Upset by Surprise Victories

A funny thing happened to trainers Gary Jones and Richard Mulhall on their way to Del Mar.

Their horses stumbled over their conditions.

When Jones saddled Black Monday for the Sunset Handicap last Sunday at Hollywood Park, the 5-year-old English-bred horse was the fourth betting choice in a seven-horse field. Jones figured he would settle for second- or third-place money in the $270,900 grass stake and then ship Black Monday to Del Mar, where the $75,000 Escondido Handicap on Aug. 9 would be just about right for the horse’s schedule.

Something unusual happened, however, before the Sunset--rainfall in Southern California in July. “They said it was a heavy mist,” Jones said, “but as far as I was concerned, it was raining.”

Black Monday has tender feet and runs with bar shoes to absorb the concussion. The moisture that came before the Sunset loosened up Hollywood Park’s hard grass course and made it less punishing. Black Monday raced to a one-length victory, his first in the United States and his first in almost a year anywhere.

The Escondido is restricted to horses who haven’t won $35,000 in a race at a mile or longer this year. The Sunset was 1 1/2 miles. To paraphrase Sam Goldwyn, include Black Monday out.

So now Jones will have to find another spot for his horse. “Anyplace where Itsallgreektome isn’t,” the trainer said, referring to last year’s male turf champion, who is also stabled here.

The day after the Sunset, Mulhall sent out Scherando, at 16-1, to run in the Hollywood Juvenile. The prospects weren’t good that Mulhall’s colt would do something that he couldn’t do a month before. In the Ladbroke Futurity at Golden Gate Fields, Burnished Bronze beat Scherando by three lengths, and Burnished Bronze was 3-5 at Hollywood Park.

Thinking ahead, Mulhall envisioned a race at Del Mar for Scherando in two weeks. But after Scherando won the Juvenile, with Burnished Bronze finishing third, Mulhall said: “He’s not eligible for that race down there now.”

The ultimate goal all along, of course, was the Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 11. It’s just that Scherando will have to take a different, tougher route to get there.

Trainer Chuck Marikian hasn’t won a stakes race here since 1989, and it doesn’t look as though he has the stock to win in that elite company this season.

“I still think I’ll have a good season,” Marikian said. “I’ve got 15 horses and I’m going to run them right at everybody. I might only have one horse left (because of claims) at the end, but I think we’ll win some races.”

Marikian’s barn still includes Reconnoitering, the 7-year-old gelding who inexorably makes his way toward the $500,000 mark in purses, a nickel and a dime at a time.

“How about this horse winning all that money, considering that his only stakes wins are a couple of $50,000 races,” Marikian said.

Reconnoitering won’t be forgotten by anyone who has been around him. “He’s put every rider who’s been on his back on the ground,” Marikian said.

One day, Reconnoitering showed up in Marikian’s tack room, unannounced. “He had gotten under the webbing in front of his stall and came right on in,” Marikian said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Reconnoitering, who has nine victories, nine seconds and 12 thirds in 69 starts, hasn’t won a race in almost two years. Last Sunday, dropped to the $32,000 claming ranks at Hollywood Park, he finished fifth, earning $575. It all counts.

The trainers of Marquetry and Festin, who ran 1-2 in the New England Classic at Rockingham Park, indicated Thursday that their horses won’t be running in the $1-million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 10. “My horse has had a couple of tough races, plus shipping, and the race here comes up a little too soon,” said Bobby Frankel, who trains Marquetry. “Our goal is the Breeders’ Cup (at Churchill Downs Nov. 2), and the race in New Jersey (the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park Sept. 1) seems to be better timed than the Del Mar race.” Marquetry won the Hollywood Gold Cup June 29 before going cross-country to win at Rockingham July 20. Marquetry had a 12-pound weight advantage when he beat Farma Way by a head at Hollywood Park, but under the conditions of the Pacific Classic, both horses would carry 124 pounds.

Trainer Ron McAnally said Festin also probably won’t run in the Pacific Classic because of the timing of the race. Festin needs a track that allows late runners to come from behind, and McAnally will see how Del Mar plays before making a final decision. Festin is also a candidate for the Iselin, as well as the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park Sept. 15.

Horse Racing Notes

Louis Cyphre, Twilight Agenda and Roanoke, all winners at the Hollywood Park meeting, will share high weight at 118 pounds apiece in the 50th San Diego Handicap, a $150,000 stake at Del Mar Saturday. Others in the 10-horse field are Asia, Aguilucho, Warcraft, Jungle Pioneer, Northern Beau, Stalwart Charger and Stylish Winner. Gary Jones, who won the stake a year ago with Quiet American, trains Jungle Pioneer.

Paul Deats, a member of the California Horse Racing Board for eight years, announced at Thursday’s meeting in Torrey Pines that he will be leaving the board. Deats, given another appointment to the board by then-Gov. George Deukmejian late last year, was notified recently by Gov. Pete Wilson’s office that the new administration would not be honoring the appointment. It is Deats’ understanding that Wilson wants someone on the board who is more closely allied with the harness racing industry. Deats maintained, however, that he had never penalized the harness industry during his tenure.

Hansel, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner, will carry 126 pounds Saturday against Private Man, Sultry Song, Character, Corporate Report and Lost Mountain in the $500,000 Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park. Hansel is the even-money favorite, with Corporate Report, who will carry 120 pounds, next on the morning line at 3-1. With Gary Stevens riding Louis Cyphre at Del Mar, Corey Black has the mount on Character.