Notes on a Scorecard - March 4, 1992

Just how big is the Big ‘Cap? . . .

“I’d rather win this race than the Kentucky Derby,” said trainer Gary Jones, who will have the opportunity Saturday when he saddles probable favorite Best Pal in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap. . . .

If he had grown up near the twin spires in Louisville, Jones would have different priorities. But he was practically raised on the backstretch in Arcadia, where his father, Farrell, was among the leading trainers. . . .

“Since I was a little kid, all I ever heard about was the Big ‘Cap,” Jones said. . . .

Horses trained by Farrell Jones were zero for eight in the race. The best any ever finished was seventh. Gary is zero for five, but Lightning Mandate finished third in 1976. . . .

Often, the question is whether a horse can “get the distance” in the Big ‘Cap, the American classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. Best Pal already has answered that. Three of the 1991 Kentucky Derby runner-up’s four victories since Jones replaced trainer Ian Jory have been at 1 1/4 miles. . . .

The main event will be the fifth race because of the national telecast on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.” Post time is 2:44 p.m., but the race will not be shown locally on Channel 7 until 5:44, on tape-delay. . . .

Who better to make a prediction than Patrick Valenzuela? He has ridden the three top-rated contenders--Best Pal, Twilight Agenda, and In Excess. As contract rider for Allen Paulson, he would have been aboard Dinard, but the 4-year-old is sitting out this dance. Valenzuela may ride Ibero if there is an off-track and a $20,000 supplementary fee is paid. . . .

Valenzuela on Best Pal: “Gary Jones has gotten to know the horse well. He has him at his peak.” . . .

Valenzuela on Twilight Agenda: “If they let him sit on an easy lead, he is going to be tough to beat.” . . .

Valenzuela on In Excess: “I rode him in the Metropolitan Mile in New York, and he won very impressively after stumbling at the start. He’s a real professional racehorse.” . . .

The edge, says Valenzuela, goes to Best Pal. . . .

Funny, but I thought Tom Lasorda and the Dodgers showed Mike Morgan a lot of respect, considering that Morgan was more games under .500 for his career than any active major league pitcher. . . .

It is time for Darryl Strawberry to forget that he ever played for the New York Mets and concentrate on being a Dodger. . . .

Baseball fan John Wooden is disappointed that the Sporting News has decided to drop box scores. . . .

Now that three Pacific 10 Conference teams are ranked in the top 10--Arizona, USC and UCLA--too bad there no longer is a conference tournament. . . .

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Duke and Virginia, each ranked No. 1, could become the first two teams from the same conference to win NCAA men’s and women’s basketball championships the same year. . . .

Approximately 7,000 tickets have been sold for the women’s Final Four April 4-5 at the Sports Arena. . . .

If ever a father had a son in the right profession it is Jerry Tarkanian, dad of lawyer Danny Tarkanian. . . .

Sinjin Smith’s No. 22 UCLA jersey will be retired before the Bruin-USC volleyball game tonight at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

Payback Time: Jeff Fenech may have been robbed in Las Vegas when his bout with Azumah Nelson was ruled a draw, but even more ludicrous was that two of the three judges had the rematch even before the dominating Nelson stopped Fenech in the eighth round. . . .

The Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles’ 1991 World Trophy awards will be presented to Mike Powell of North America, Samuel Matete of Africa, Lin Li of Asia, Tamas Darnyi of Europe, Kieren Perkins of Oceania and Hortencia Marcari of South America next Wednesday. . . .

They should bring back the attendance meter at the Sports Arena. . . .

Former players doing excellent jobs as commentators on King games are Jim Fox of Prime Ticket and Brian Engblom of XTRA radio. . . .

Who needs Adam Oates? Brett Hull has scored nine goals in his last four games. . . .

Perhaps the most sought-after Plan B free agent is Green Bay Packer wide receiver Jeff Query. . . .

Al Davis made the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech for former Raiders Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell and Ted Hendricks. So who will make the speech for Davis in Canton, Ohio, this summer? It could be Sid Gillman, who gave Davis his start in professional football when he hired him as a Charger assistant coach. . . .

On the 30th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, three of the four NBA teams that played failed to score 100.