SANTA ANITA : Gravieres Might Have Taken Herself Off Market With Santa Ana Victory

Gravieres probably took herself off the market with her performance in the $162,400 Santa Ana Handicap Saturday.

Owner Peter Wall had been hoping to sell the 4-year-old, French-bred filly, but he might feel differently after her come-from-behind victory in the Grade I event.

Making her first start of 1992, Gravieres outfinished Appealing Missy by a half-length, then survived a stewards’ inquiry to cap a stakes double for trainer Bobby Frankel. Earlier in the day, his Now Listen had won the Ft. Lauderdale Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Second to Flawlessly at 26-1 in her American debut last Oct. 5, Gravieres won the Carmel Handicap at Bay Meadows as the heavy favorite, then went to the sidelines.

“She was sick after her last race and we didn’t want to rush her,” Frankel said after the 3-1 second choice completed the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47 3/5.

“It wasn’t anything too serious. She had a temperature for a few days, then she was coughing. I might run her back in the (1 1/4-mile) Santa Barbara (on April 5), or I may just wait until the (Santa Anita Budweiser) Breeders’ Cup (on April 19). I’m going to see how Polemic runs (today) because I might run her in the Santa Barbara.

“The time off did her good. She filled out. I told Gary (Stevens) to ride her like Exbourne and make one run.”

Stevens followed instructions and was able to rally from last despite a slow pace (24 3/5, 48 and 1:12 for six furlongs).

“She has a lot of class,” Stevens said. “My only concern was not letting her run before the eighth pole. She should have beaten Flawlessly. She saw daylight and got away. She made a big run around the turn and tired out.

“She doesn’t do anything in the morning to make you think she’s a superstar, but sometimes they’re different in the afternoon. She went out and beat some good horses. Bobby is the best at getting a horse ready.”

Appealing Missy, who had upset Exchange in the Buena Vista three weeks earlier, was three-quarters of a length ahead of 15-1 shot Explosive Ele.

Free At Last, the 7-5 favorite, was fourth and never really had clear sailing in what might have been her last race.

“I was trapped like a rat,” jockey Eddie Delahoussaye said. “I wanted to get outside on the backstretch and couldn’t. I finally got out in the stretch and Gary (Stevens) came out and cut over. She was fighting me all the way from the seven-eighths or three-quarters.

“She was getting rank and they were going slow up front. (Appealing Missy) was in front of me and I couldn’t get out because (Elegance) was outside me.”

Elegance was fifth, then came pacesetter Noble And Nice, Re Toss and Guiza, Frankel’s other entrant.

Bertrando, making his 1992 debut, is the 6-5 favorite for today’s $200,000-added San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Second to Arazi in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his last race, Bertrando has trained well for his return and is expected to go from the San Felipe to a showdown with A.P. Indy in the Santa Anita Derby.

In his only other start at Santa Anita, the Skywalker colt was a nine-length winner of the Norfolk Stakes Oct. 13. Alex Solis will ride Bertrando, who will carry 122 pounds, six more than his rivals.

Natural Nine, who won the restricted Bradbury Stakes in his last outing, is the 7-2 second morning line choice. He is followed by Al Sabin (4-1), Arp (5-1), Hickman Creek and Prince Wild (12-1) and Pecos River (15-1).

Abergwaun Lad joined Arp as the only four-time winners at the meeting with a two-length victory in Saturday’s second race, a $25,000 claimer.

Since returning to the races Feb. 12, the 6-year-old Island Whirl gelding hasn’t been tested while working his way up the ladder. He won in his comeback for $10,000, then scored twice against $20,000 rivals before Saturday.

All four of the victories have come with ease and he now has 12 victories in 20 lifetime starts.

After winning three times for trainer Steve Rothblum, Abergwaun Lad was claimed by Robert Marshall. Marshall turned a quick $16,000 profit, thanks to Saturday’s victory and a claim by Walter Greenman.

Horse Racing Notes

Gravieres ran with Lasix for the first time Saturday because she had bled during a workout a few months ago, according to trainer Bobby Frankel. Gravieres returned $8 and earned $94,900.

Trainer Don Pierce has been fined $1,500, placed on probation for the rest of the year and given a 30-day suspension, which was stayed, for a medication violation. Pierce was cited for Slew The Surgeon, who tested positive for promazine sulfoxide after winning a race at Hollywood Park Dec. 19.