SANTA ANITA : Don’t Cry for McAnally--or for Argentina

In one sense, Paseana is already better than Bayakoa.

The newest Argentine queen in the Ron McAnally barn has acclimated quicker to the United States than did her accomplished predecessor.

“It’s very hard to compare them,” said Eduardo Inda, McAnally’s assistant trainer after Paseana’s victory in Sunday’s $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap. “(Paseana) is doing everything earlier in the year. It took Bayakoa a year in this country to relax.”

Before she was through, Bayakoa twice won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Eclipse Award along with more than $2.8 million.

The heavy favorite in her last three victories, Sunday’s 2-5 betting choice has now won four of five in California. After winning the San Gorgonio and Santa Maria Handicaps by 2 1/2 lengths, she won by 2 1/4 Sunday in 1:47 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Laramie Moon, the longest shot in the field at 17-1, was second after setting the pace, six lengths ahead of Colour Chart, who had given Paseana a mild scare in the Santa Maria three weeks earlier.

“She was just as strong (as last time),” jockey Chris McCarron said. “(Paseana) is absolutely a push-button horse. She was more relaxed--much more composed going to the post, and she didn’t pull as she had in her last two races going into the first turn.

“History tells us when horses peak. You’ve got to be able to predict the future to know if she will get better. I like to think she’s only half as good as she will be.”

On his way home after a trip to Europe, McAnally called Inda from Atlanta before the Santa Margarita.

“Ronnie called me and told me to tell Chris to have a lot of horse left at the end because he thought Colour Chart would be running,” Inda said. “(Laramie Moon’s trainer Neil) Drysdale was telling everyone all week that he would (win). He said if you want the lead, you better take the lead. So, what happens? He goes to the lead. It was perfect.”

Fourth of five in the Santa Maria, Laramie Moon improved Sunday, but Colour Chart went the other direction. One of two saddled by trainer Charlie Whittingham--his other, Campagnarde, was fourth--she made a menacing move around the turn, but proved no match in the final quarter mile.

“No excuses,” said Gary Stevens, Colour Chart’s jockey. “She got outrun. There’s no disgrace getting beaten by the winner, but I expected a little better run from her. She got trounced pretty good today.”

Best Pal and Twilight Agenda were given 124 pounds, one more than In Excess, when weights for Saturday’s $1-million Santa Anita Handicap were assigned Sunday morning.

This was a shift from the San Antonio Handicap, the final prep for the Big ‘Cap. Twilight Agenda was assigned 126, one more than Best Pal and three more than In Excess. Of the three, In Excess was the only one who started. He wound up second to Ibero in his first race of the year.

“I don’t see how a horse can drop (weight) without running,” said Gary Jones, the trainer of San Fernando and Charles H. Strub Stakes winner Best Pal. “If we wait a couple of months, he’ll be down to 121.

“I do agree that both of us should have been closer to In Excess. But, no trainer’s ever going to happy no matter what the weights are.

“(Owner John) Mabee grumbled a little bit like I am, but the weights are acceptable to him.”

Both Twilight Agenda and Best Pal worked six furlongs Sunday morning at Hollywood Park. Twilight Agenda was timed in 1:10 1/5 while Best Pal went 1:14. Best Pal was scheduled to work this morning, but Jones moved it up a day to beat the predicted rain.

“He galloped out in 1:24 (for seven furlongs) and 1:39 (for a mile),” trainer Wayne Lukas said of Twilight Agenda.

“He’s right on his game. It’s quicker than we usually work a horse, but we felt with the long layoff (he hasn’t run since Jan. 25) he needed a good, stiff work. Chris (McCarron) was up and said the horse was very much within himself.”

Of the other possible participants in the 1 1/4-mile Handicap, the second leg of the American Championship Racing Series, Algenib and Ibero were given 117 pounds and Defensive Play and Fanatic Boy each received 115.

Horse Racing Notes

Paseana’s victory was the fifth stakes success at the meeting for owners Sidney and Jenny Craig, who also own El Encino and La Canada Stakes winner Exchange. . . . Eduardo Inda, Ron McAnally’s assistant trainer, will leave for Florida Tuesday to prepare Sea Cadet for Saturday’s Gulfstream Park Handicap. Alex Solis will ride, which means Pat Valenzuela will be aboard Ibero if that horse runs in the Big ‘Cap. . . . Bayakoa won the Santa Margarita in 1989 and 1990 and was second to Little Brianne last year. . . . Jockey Chris McCarron also won with Shadha and Mojave Gold on Sunday.