SANTA ANITA : Gray Slewpy Scores His First Stakes Victory in El Conejo in Record Time

Ed Friendly had some business to take care of before he and his wife, Natalie, began a voyage down the Amazon River.

The longtime television producer and racehorse owner wanted to hear how his Gray Slewpy did in Saturday’s $106,275 El Conejo Handicap.

Calling from Brazil, Friendly spoke for several minutes with trainer Dan Hendricks before the start of the 5 1/2-furlong El Conejo, the meeting’s shortest stakes race.

Then, when the field was ready, Hendricks put his portable phone down and let Friendly listen to track announcer Trevor Denman’s call.

He had to like what he heard.

Making his second start of the year, Gray Slewpy scored his first stakes victory, winning in a track record 1:02.

Taken in hand late by jockey Kent Desormeaux, the 4-year-old Slewpy ridgling and 6-5 favorite won by 1 3/4 lengths. Frost Free, who won the 1990 El Conejo, was second as the 2-1 second choice, a length in front of Cardmania. Thirty Slews and Anjiz completed the field, which was reduced by the scratch of Apollo.

It was the fifth victory in seven lifetime starts for Gray Slewpy.

“(Friendly) was ecstatic (after the race),” Hendricks said. “He didn’t believe me when I told him he had set a track record. He thought it was a bad connection.

“I think we’re going to have fun with this horse. The pressure is over a little bit in the sense he proved his quality today. The track record was icing on the cake.”

Even though Gray Slewpy won three of his five starts last year, Desormeaux sees a big difference in the Kentucky-bred. “He’s a lot stronger,” the jockey said. “He’s a big monster, but he’s first coming away from the gate every time. It’s amazing how he gets his legs under him in a couple of strides. You’d expect him to take some time to get up to speed.

“He absolutely breezed. I had a ton of horse.”

Pat Valenzuela had no excuses for the runner-up, who was spotting the winner five pounds (119-114).

“My horse ran his tail off and got beat,” he said. “The other horse is good right now. My horse ran a super race . . . the winner ran better.”

Exchange will go for her sixth consecutive victory today in the second division of the $75,000-added Buena Vista Handicap at one mile on the turf.

Earlier in the week, trainer Bill Spawr had said the 4-year-old Explodent filly might not take part in the Buena Vista, but the decision was made to run Saturday morning.

Fresh from main-track victories in the El Encino and La Canada stakes, Exchange has lost only twice in six turf starts, but this will be her first outing on the Santa Anita grass. She will carry top weight of 120 pounds and will again be ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr. Current plans call for Exchange to return March 14 in the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

The 9-5 favorite on the morning line, Exchange will have eight opponents, topped by Re Toss, Sunset Partner and Reluctant Guest.

Trained by Henry Moreno and ridden by Corey Nakatani, Re Toss will going for her third consecutive victory, but she hasn’t started since winning the closing-day Dahlia Handicap Dec. 24 at Hollywood Park.

Sunset Partner was impressive winning down the hillside at 16-1 despite bleeding through the nose and being hit by a dirt clod, which closed one of her eyes. Reluctant Guest won the Louis R. Rowan Handicap over this course at this distance Nov. 3.

In the first division, Crystal Gazing is the 2-1 early favorite. A fast-finishing third in the Monrovia Handicap, the 4-year-old El Gran Senor filly probably will be more comfortable at this distance. She won half of her six starts in England; Eddie Delahoussaye will ride for trainer Neil Drysdale.

Just Released, Gold Fleece, Agirlfromars, Elegance, Masake, Southern Tradition, Daring Doone and Danzante round out the field in the first division.

Horse Racing Notes

Gray Slewpy will make his next start in the 6 1/2-furlong Potrero Grande on March 22, then might go east for sprint stakes in Kentucky and New York. . . . Trainer Gary Jones said Apollo was scratched Saturday because he wasn’t totally happy with the colt’s most recent work--48 2/5 Wednesday--and he didn’t like his No. 4 post position. Jones said that Apollo will be pointed to the Arcadia Handicap at one mile on the turf March 7. The race also is expected to lure Itsallgreektome and Tight Spot.

Jockey Antonio Castanon ended an 80-race losing streak when he won the third race with Miss Turkana Saturday. It was one of two winners for Jones, who leads the standings with 19 victories. . . . Star Of The Crop, a hard-luck loser to Mineral Wells in the San Vicente two weeks ago, probably will head the field for Wednesday’s six-furlong Bolsa Chica Stakes. Other probables are Gold Desert; Three Peat, who beat maidens by seven lengths in 1:08 2/5 in his debut Feb. 9; Arp; Egocentric; Ocean Native; Real West; Salt Lake and The Name’s Jimmy.