SANTA ANITA : Fly Till Dawn Wins the Arcadia

Although his trainer said the distance isn’t his best and his jockey said he didn’t really care for the turf course, Fly Till Dawn became the latest horse to beat Itsallgreektome, winning the $167,700 Arcadia Handicap Saturday at Santa Anita.

Able to relax a couple of lengths off the pace early, the 6-year-old son of Swing Till Dawn got the lead near the quarter pole, then beat Itsallgreektome, the 5-2 favorite, by three-quarters of a length in 1:34 3/5 for the mile.

Itsallgreektome, a 1990 Eclipse champion, has been second in his last four starts with three different riders.

Extremely unlucky to lose the San Marcos Handicap when part of an extremely fast pace, Fly Till Dawn, who paid $10.60, was more cooperative Saturday, according to Pincay.

“Going a mile, there was more speed, and I think he relaxed more,” he said. “I thought it was a good race for him because the turf course was soft, and I think he likes it a little bit harder. That’s probably why he didn’t switch leads.”

It was Fly Till Dawn’s eighth victory in 25 starts, and he has earned more than $1.1 million for owner Josephine Gleis.

“I’m not sure this is his best distance, but he tries hard, so you always have that going for you,” trainer Darrell Vienna said. “He has a tremendous amount of quality and desire, and that’s always dangerous.

“We scratched Notorious Pleasure because we really didn’t get a rider whom we felt comfortable with. To tell you the truth, I thought he was going to run equally well today. Laffit had the choice of riding either horse. He stayed with this horse, I think not so much as a reflection of their comparative abilities, but he’s just been on this horse longer.”

Pat Valenzuela, the latest to try his hand aboard Itsallgreektome, wasn’t disappointed in the gelding’s effort.

“The winner had a clean trip, sitting just off the pace, and my horse had to go five-wide on the turn,” he said. “A couple of more jumps and he would have gotten there. He’ll be tough next time (in the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey Stakes March 29). I was very happy with his race and so was (trainer) Wally (Dollase).”

Qathif, a 9-1 shot, was third, a half-length behind Itsallgreektome. Then came Leger Cat, Dominion Gold, Repriced, Eternity Star, Blaze O’Brien, Hollywood Reporter, 5-2 second choice Classic Fame and Apollo.

Trainer Brian Mayberry wasn’t surprised Forest Fealty won Saturday’s $88,725 Las Flores Breeders’ Cup Handicap. What he couldn’t believe is that she paid $43.40.

“It’s the biggest overlay I’ve seen since I’ve been in California,” said Mayberry after the 5-year-old mare’s 5 1/2-length victory in 1:08 4/5 for the six furlongs.

Actually, the margin of victory was deceiving. Middlefork Rapids, the 13-10 favorite, was roughed up after the start but managed to finish second by a nose over 41-1 shot Phil’s Illusion.

Even though Forest Fealty entered with a six-race losing streak, she is a front-runner and had an inside post--two ingredients that have been very powerful at Santa Anita lately.

Pleasant Stage, who wrapped up an Eclipse Award with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, will make her first start of the year in today’s $200,000-added Santa Anita Oaks.