SANTA ANITA : Valenzuela Pulls Fast One and Wins

On the lead was the last place Leeanne Aiello, subbing for trainer Terry Knight, expected Middlefork Rapids to be in the $84,900 Monrovia Handicap Wednesday at Santa Anita.

“I was a little shocked,” she said. “But, when I saw how much horse he (Pat Valenzuela) had, I said, ‘Go on with her, pal.’ ”

Turns out Valenzuela knew exactly what he was doing. After coming from off the pace in her last three sprints, Middlefork Rapids won wire-to-wire at 9-1 Wednesday. Thirteen days after running second on the hillside turf course, the 4-year-old Wild Again filly clocked 1:12 2/5 for the about 6 1/2 furlongs in winning by almost two lengths.

Remarkably Easy, who chased the winner throughout, was second at 18-1, three lengths ahead of Crystal Gazing. Danzante, the 3-2 favorite, was fifth. “She’s got a lot of speed,” Valenzuela said of Middlefork Rapids. “I didn’t want her to go too fast early. When I asked her, she really accelerated.”

Making her American debut, Crystal Gazing came from last to earn third money and should be a factor when she stretches out. Perhaps, Danzante may have come back too soon (10 days) after dominating softer competition in her first race in this country.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Gary Stevens, who rode Danzante. “I thought I had a lot of horse crossing the dirt and she stopped.”

Best Pal, the logical favorite for Sunday’s $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:13 Tuesday morning at Hollywood Park.

Coming off perhaps the best race of his career in the San Fernando Stakes, the 4-year-old Habitony gelding will again be opposed by Olympio, Dinard and Charmonnier in the 1 1/4-mile Strub.

Other possibilities for the Grade I are Another Review, Border Run, Quintana and Reign Road.

Horse Racing Notes.

Apprentice jockey Felipe Martinez was suspended five days--beginning Saturday--for an incident in Sunday’s ninth race. . . . Trackside, the show hosted by trainer Roger Stein and Kelso Sturgeon, will make its debut on XTRA (690-AM) this weekend. The show can be heard Saturdays and Sundays from 7 to 8 a.m. . . . A.P. Indy, who is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the San Rafael Stakes Feb. 29, breezed six furlongs in 1:15 4/5 Wednesday morning. The $2.9-million yearling hasn’t started since winning the $500,000 Hollywood Futurity in December. Also working was Eclipse Award winner Miss Alleged. The female turf champion, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Hollywood Turf Cup, went a mile in 1:38 2/5.