SANTA ANITA : Tight Spot Will Head North Today for San Francisco Mile on Saturday

Now that Tight Spot has shown he can handle the Santa Anita turf course, the 1991 Eclipse Award winner will try another track Saturday.

Successful in nine of 10 starts on the grass, Tight Spot will leave today for Albany, Calif., where he is scheduled to make his first start on the Golden Gate Fields turf course Saturday in the $200,000 San Francisco Mile.

In his first race of 1992, the 5-year-old His Majesty horse recorded some fast fractions while pressured by Sounds Fabulous, yet won with something left in a classified allowance race Feb. 28. He ran the mile in 1:33 2/5.

“I thought it was a good race for him,” trainer Ron McAnally said. “He handled the course very well. When I saw Laffit (Pincay) the next day, I asked him about that, and he just smiled and shook his head.

“The turf course up there hasn’t been used in about a year (actually, since June), so it will be nice and fresh. It’s not chewed up like (Santa Anita’s). If it rains, we’ll just bring Tight Spot back.”

The time off that Tight Spot had after incurring his only loss on turf in the Breeders’ Cup Mile did him some good, according to McAnally, who added: “Nothing seems to bother him. He’ll just stand there and let you do whatever has to be done. He acts like he’s been doing it for 50 years. He gets a little nasty once in a while, but he’s a real pro.”

The same can’t be said for Algenib, who raced Tight Spot to a photo finish in last year’s Arlington Million. Transferred to the McAnally barn the day after he finished last in the Santa Anita Handicap, Algenib has his problems.

“We have a couple of psychiatrists coming over to analyze him,” McAnally chuckled. “We’ve made a little bit of progress with him. He was kind of a fiery horse (in Argentina), but not quite what he is now. He wants to walk over the top of everybody. You can’t put a bridle on him, and it takes two men to walk him.

“We’re attempting to change him around a little bit and let him know that you’re the boss instead of him--not by force, but rather by reprimanding him when he needs it. He had his first breeze for us today and he went very well (four furlongs in 47 2/5) and came back good.”

If he can make the proper arrangements, McAnally will be in England next month to watch Dr. Devious make his first start for his new owners, Sidney and Jenny Craig. The latter bought the 3-year-old for $2.5 million as a 60th-birthday present for her husband. After the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 16, the Ahonoora colt, who has four wins and two seconds in six starts, is scheduled to be shipped to the United States for the Kentucky Derby.

“I’m trying to work it out so I can be there, then be back for Paseana’s race in the Apple Blossom (at Oaklawn Park on April 17),” McAnally said. “Dr. Devious is a versatile horse. He’s won on the lead, and in another race he was forced to take back and he came from fifth or sixth to win.”

After finishing second three times, third once and out of the money once in five previous sprints at Santa Anita, Past Prince came on a second time to beat Doyouseewhatisee in Wednesday’s $51,200 Dimaggio Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Laffit Pincay, the 5-year-old Princely Native gelding took the lead immediately, was headed by the 2-1 second choice, but came back to win by a head in 1:15 1/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. Express It, the 2-1 favorite, was third, a head behind Doyouseewhatisee. Past Prince paid $13.80 in winning for the fourth time in 16 starts for trainer Thomas Fallon.

Horse Racing Notes

Alex Solis, the hottest rider at Santa Anita, escaped injury when he was thrown from Convenient Excuse in the fourth race Wednesday. Solis and his mount were squeezed into the rail by One Tough Saros, ridden by Felipe Martinez, and Solis, flipped into the air, clipped the rail with his leg as he came down. After being examined at the track’s first-aid station, he walked back to the jockeys’ room, then returned to win the seventh race aboard favored Friedlander. Look for Martinez to be handed a suspension.

Toni Stevens, wife of jockey Gary Stevens, gave birth to the couple’s fourth child Tuesday night. Carlie MacKenzie Stevens weighed in at 5 pounds 11 ounces. . . . The San Francisco Mile will be simulcast at Santa Anita Saturday between the sixth and seventh races. Trainer Ron McAnally has won the race twice before, with Ice Hot (1984) and Dormello (1987). . . . Answer Do was assigned top weight of 123 pounds for Sunday’s $100,000 Potrero Grande Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs; Gray Slewpy was given 118.