SANTA ANITA : Magical Maiden Wins, Ends Her Trainer’s 22-Year Drought

Warren Stute went a long time between stakes victories at Santa Anita’s main meeting.

When Magical Maiden beat Golden Treat and eight others in Sunday’s $164,300 Las Virgenes Stakes, it ended a 22-year drought for the 70-year-old trainer. Snow Sporting’s victory in the 1970 Charles H. Strub Stakes had been Stute’s last added-money victory in Arcadia.

A 3-year-old daughter of Lord Avie, Magical Maiden saved ground the entire trip, went through an opening approaching the quarter pole, opened up a commanding lead, then held on to beat Golden Treat by a neck in 1:36 1/5 for the mile.

A half-sister to Magical Mile and Magic Sister, Magical Maiden is a nose away from having three consecutive stakes victories. After winning the Hollywood Starlet, she was edged at 2-5 by Queens Court Queen in last month’s Bay Meadows Oaks--much to the surprise of Stute and rider Gary Stevens.

“When they put up the other number, Gary and I were both shocked,” said Stute, who consistently is one of the circuit’s high-percentage trainers.

“I let Gary ride his own race (Sunday). When you have a good jockey, you don’t give them orders. They know how to ride. He took advantage when the hole opened up and he shot her through. The (Santa Anita) Oaks (on March 8) will be her next race.”

Never worse than third in six starts, Magical Maiden, is owned by 77-year-old Clement Hirsch.

“If it wasn’t for Mr. Hirsch, I wouldn’t have trained her,” said Stute, who suffered a mild stroke in January. “I thought she was too small. He kind of insisted. Thank God he did. She started to come around during Oak Tree. My good friend (trainer) George Vogel said, ‘She’s small because she’s just immature.’ Maybe he was right.

“My health’s good. I feel great. I’m getting on two or three horses morning now instead of five. I used to gallop her. She’s tough and I haven’t galloped her since the stroke. Angel Rangel (an exercise rider) actually gallops her better than I do.

“I give a lot of credit to Gary Stevens. He’s always been high on her and he rides her perfect.”

Magical Maiden’s position inside prompted Stevens to move when pacesetter Luv Me Luv Me Not lugged out, leaving the rail free.

“I didn’t want to go when I did, but I didn’t know how long that hole would be open,” Stevens said. “I just wanted to get a head up in there. In the past, she’s cruised to the quarter (pole) and always gave the impression she’d sprint past, but she would just run steady.

“Today, she just cut. That’s the move I always thought she had. I pointed her to the hole and she was there in one stride. If I had been on the outside, I probably would have waited.

“She didn’t seem too tired coming back. I think a lot of the difference was giving (Golden Treat) six pounds (121-115). I couldn’t believe anyone was getting to her. My filly was getting with it the last eighth of a mile.”

Much the best when beaten by Crownette in the Santa Ysabel Jan. 22, Golden Treat had no excuses Sunday, but was 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Red Bandana, the longest shot in the field at nearly 83-1.

“She needed a mile and two jumps,” said Kent Desormeaux, who rode the runner-up for the first time Sunday. “I thought she was going to get up at the eighth pole, but Magical Maiden kicked in a little more.”

Don B’s Princess was fourth, then came Luv Me Luv Me Not, Hopeful Amber, Fluttery Danseur, who suffered her first defeat in five starts in her first race around two turns, Over The Mamoon, Icy Eyes and Alpine Queen.

Miss Alleged, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top female turf performer last year, is scheduled to make her 1992 debut in today’s $250,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Barring additional rain, the race is expected to remain on the grass. According to course superintendent Steve Guise, the turf course is in better shape now than at any time in the last two years.

Winless in her first six starts of 1991, Miss Alleged earned her Eclipse with a 42-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, then came back to win the Hollywood Turf Cup. In both of those races, Itsallgreektome and Quest For Fame finished second and third.

Trained by Charlie Whittingham, the 5-year-old Alleged mare has a series of good works for her return, including a 1:37 2/5 mile on Feb. 9. Chris McCarron will ride Miss Alleged, who is 9-5 on the morning line and will break from the rail.

Quest For Fame, who ended a seven-race losing streak with a victory at 2-5 on Jan. 24, will race with Lasix for the first time today. Gary Stevens has the call for trainer Bobby Frankel, who also entered Missionary Ridge.

The rest of the field: Choice Is Clear (Frank Alvarado, 20-1), My Style (Corey Black, 10-1), Military Shot (Corey Nakatani, 10-1), Fanatic Boy (G.F. Almeida, 12-1), French Seventyfive (Eddie Delahoussaye, 6-1), Cool Gold Mood (Kent Desormeaux, 15-1) and Capel Meister (Joe Steiner, 30-1).

Horse Racing Notes

Magical Maiden paid $6.20 to win and the victory was worth $96,800 to owner Clement Hirsch. . . . Stevens also won two races for trainer Wayne Lukas, on maidens China Bell in the sixth and Bitter Rice in the ninth. . . . Trainer Ian Jory became a father for the first time when his wife gave birth to 9-pound, 4-ounce girl Sunday morning. . . . Services will be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Glendale for thoroughbred owner-breeder Shirlee Bronson. Bronson, who raced horses with her husband, Milton, died Sunday morning of pancreatic cancer.