DEL MAR : Balboa Is a Romp for Scherando

Maybe Scherando will get some mutuel respect in the Del Mar Futurity Sept. 11.

Fresh off a victory in the Hollywood Juvenile, the 2-year-old Dimaggio colt was easily the most accomplished member of the cast in the $81,375 Balboa Stakes on Wednesday after being no better than the 5-1 fifth choice in the nine-horse field.

Those who liked him were happy to take $13.40 after Scherando won for the third time in five starts, defeating 21-1 shot Star Recruit by a length to win in 1:22 2/5 for the seven furlongs.

The additional furlong of the Balboa was the main reason Scherando wasn’t a shorter price, and even trainer Richard Mulhall had some doubt how the California-bred would handle the extra distance.

“There was a question in my mind if he could go seven-eighths,” Mulhall said. “If he can go seven furlongs, then he can go a mile (the distance of the Futurity). I think seven furlongs is the toughest race in the country.

“You guys in the press have written about a lot of other 2-year-olds and ignored this horse. But, they don’t seem to catch this horse. I didn’t see anybody bearing down on him at the end. Maybe they’re not as good as you guys think they are, and maybe he’s better than you think. All I know is he’s got the money.”

Third after a quarter of a mile, Scherando slipped through along the rail to take the lead, opened up two lengths with a furlong to run and was never seriously threatened by Star Recruit. Prince Wild, beaten by half a length by Scherando in the Juvenile, was third, another four lengths back. Zurich, the 5-2 favorite, was fourth. Then came Sebring, El Anelo, Overstock, Roan Shark and Waki Warrior.

Francisco Mena, Scherando’s rider in four of his five starts, says he doesn’t think a mile will bother owner Chase Mishkin’s homebred.

“The trainer told me to go to the lead,” Mena said. “I tried to, but he shied from the gap and I had to take a hold of him. Honestly, though, I don’t think he has to have the lead to win. I’ve worked him in the mornings behind horses and he did just fine.

“I’m just glad he responded today. He gave it to me good. I ride to orders, of course, but I’d love to talk Dick into taking this colt back and making one run with him. He’s got natural speed; he’s got natural everything. This horse has class.”

A nose winner over maidens Aug. 3, Star Recruit improved with Lasix, despite having to break from the rail.

“(Mena) did a good job of race riding at the quarter pole,” said Eddie Delahoussaye, who rode the runner-up. “There was a hole there and I went for it, but he got there first and cut me out. I don’t know if it’s going to make all the difference anyway. My horse ran well. It was a good race for him.”

Burnished Bronze, who won three of his four lifetime starts, was destroyed Wednesday morning at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital.

The 2-year-old son of Seattle Slew broke down Saturday morning, suffering sesamoid injuries while preparing for the Balboa Stakes. He had surgery Monday.

According to Gayle Van Leer, racing manager for Golden Eagle Farm, the colt was fine for the first 24 hours after the operation but then developed colic and his condition worsened. It was determined that he wouldn’t be able to survive another operation and he was put down.

Owned by John and Betty Mabee and trained by David Hofmans, Burnished Bronze won the De Anza Stakes Aug. 7 in his final start. Before that, he had won the Ladbroke Futurity and was third as the favorite in the Hollywood Juvenile.

Akinemod, who was scratched from Sunday’s Rancho Bernardo because of an abscess, will make her long-awaited return in the June Darling on Sept. 1., according to trainer Jerry Fanning.

Sidelined since January of 1990 because of a variety of physical problems, Akinemod has trained extremely well for her first race since winning the El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita by 18 lengths.

“She’s doing just fine,” Fanning said. “It wasn’t too bad of an abscess.”

A 5-year-old Time To Explode mare, Akinemod drew the rail for the Rancho Bernardo and Fanning was also unhappy with her 120-pound weight assignment.

Horse Racing Notes

Scherando’s $47,625 payday boosted his earnings to $141,525. . . . Julio Garcia has returned to his native Puerto Rico again to deal with personal problems, and it is not known when or if he will return. Garcia won the Ramona Handicap aboard longshot Campagnarde last Saturday after having missed nine days, went home again Sunday then rode here Monday.

Lite Light, who will make her next start in the Chula Vista Handicap on Sept. 1, will arrive at Del Mar today. She will be stabled in Richard Mandella’s barn. . . . John Mabee turned 70 Wednesday. . . . Trainer Wayne Lukas may run Pacific Classic runner-up Twilight Agenda and Deposit Ticket in Saturday’s Pat O’Brien, which goes at seven furlongs. Go And Go will skip the race.