SANTA ANITA : Restless Ruckus’ Victory in Baldwin Is a Repeat for Owner and Trainer

Craig Lewis and Jim Ford hope a trip to the winner’s circle after the Baldwin Stakes will become an annual tradition.

Trainer and owner made it two consecutive victories in the race when Reckless Ruckus won wire-to-wire, beating Fabulous Champ and six other 3-year-olds.

A year earlier, What A Spell won in the same fashion for Lewis and Ford, and, like Wednesday, the Baldwin was moved from the grass to the main track because of the weather.

Ridden by Pat Valenzuela, Reckless Ruckus, the 2-1 second choice, won by 1 1/4 lengths and covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17 1/5 over a slow track. This was the third victory in four starts for the gelded son of Bold Ruckus and he is perfect since returning to the races after being away for more than six months.

“He bucked his shins real bad (last Aug. 28 at Del Mar),” Lewis said. “We gelded him after that race. He was an absolute maniac and still is. He’s just a bull of a horse. He would eat his groom alive. His grooms won’t even stick their toes in with him. He’s a very tough horse, a junkyard dog.

“His competitive spirit comes out in the heat of the battle. I warned Pat that he might try to get out on him, but he didn’t seem to. He ran well, but he didn’t like the track. He didn’t break sharp, but you saw how quickly he got in there. I wasn’t concerned at all about the slop or the mud. I was concerned about a track like this. It’s very tiring on a speed horse.”

This was the second try for Valenzuela aboard Reckless Ruckus. He was the rider for the gelding’s only loss--a fifth-place finish at 8-5 odds last summer.

“He didn’t impress me the first time I rode him, but he impressed me today,” Valenzuela said. “I think he’ll win some more stakes.

“That was a good race over this track. It’s pretty slow and he set fairly fast fractions (21 4/5 and 45 1/5 for the half-mile) and still had something left. Craig said he had some problems when he ran the first time, but he’s corrected them.”

Fabulous Champ was nearly two lengths ahead of Slerp, the 13-10 favorite, who was followed by Fax News, Ocean Native, Goldgusher, Sondheimer and The Name’s Jimmy. Megan’s Interco was a late scratch when he broke through the gate and ran off down the backstretch.

With Miss Alleged waiting for the Santa Barbara Handicap and Itsallgreektome recovering from a broken cannon bone, Quest For Fame will be heavily favored in Sunday’s $300,000 San Luis Rey Stakes.

A winner of his last two starts, including a victory in the San Luis Obispo, Quest For Fame isn’t likely to have too many rivals in the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey. Other probables are Fly Till Dawn, the Arcadia Handicap winner, Cool Gold Mood, Fanatic Boy, Seti I. and Provins.

A.P. Indy, preparing for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby, worked six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 Tuesday morning at Hollywood Park.

Victorious in the San Rafael in his only start of 1992, the son of Seattle Slew went well, according to trainer Neil Drysdale.

Casual Lies went an easy half-mile over a muddy track at Pleasanton Tuesday. Owner-trainer Shelly Riley said the colt will work seven furlongs Saturday and after that a decision will be made on whether he will start next in the Santa Anita Derby or California Derby on April 11.

Horse Racing Notes

The Jim Beam Stakes from Turfway Park will be simulcast at Santa Anita Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile race will be shown between the second and third races. Probable starters include Treekster, the runner-up to A.P. Indy in the San Rafael, Big Sur, Vying Victor and Snappy Landing. . . . Jockey Paul Atkinson was taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital to be examined and for precautionary X-rays after being dumped by Wee Got It after Wednesday’s sixth race. Atkinson was knocked unconscious for a few moments.

Helen Hebert, the wife of retired Times handicapper and turf writer Bob Hebert, died Monday at 81 after a long battle with cancer. There will be a Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Los Angeles. The family suggests donations be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.