SANTA ANITA : Running Downhill, the Lady Shows Her Heels to All the Boys

If Gary Jones had his way, Hollywood Park would begin construction on an addition to its turf course--specifically, a downhill slope.

Introduced to Santa Anita’s unique layout March 11, Heart Of Joy, a 5-year-old Lypheor mare trained by Jones, didn’t come close to losing in three tries over the course.

After toying with members of her own sex in her first two starts, she beat the boys in the $115,400 San Simeon Handicap Saturday.

Racing behind a wall of horses entering the stretch, the 9-10 favorite charged under Chris McCarron when a hole developed. She went on to a 1 3/4-length victory over 18-1 shot Regal Groom in 1:12 4/5 in the 6 1/2-furlong race.

Heart Of Joy paid $3.80 to win. Regal Groom paid $9.40 to place, with Time Gentlemen paying $5.20 to show.

“She’s unbelievable, isn’t she?” Jones said after Heart Of Joy won for the eighth time in 17 starts. “That’s a lot of weight to concede to colts (with 119 pounds, she was highweight on the scale). She’s awfully genuine. She runs as hard as she can.”

“I was a bit nervous when they were coming across the dirt. It looked like she was blocked in behind a wall of horses. (Owner John Mabee) and I have talked about working her on the dirt at Hollywood and maybe running her in a sprint stakes over there.”

Wherever Heart Of Joy surfaces, McCarron wants to stay aboard.

“She’s one of the fastest mares I’ve ever been on, that’s for sure,” he said after his fourth victory of the afternoon. “I think the only filly that would have a chance of beating this mare the way she’s running right now would be Beautiful Glass (who also was trained by Jones and owned by Mabee). And, of course, she’s not running anymore.

“This mare hates to see this meet close. She just loves this downhill course. Hopefully, they’ll have something on the grass at Hollywood Park. Today, I came out of there, guzzled her right away and galloped down the hill. When I had room to run, she went on.”

Regal Groom, who had recently won at the distance himself, finished a length in front of Time Gentlemen. Then came Ernani, the longest shot in the field at 89-1, Hollywood Reporter, Anjiz, Duck And Dive, Robyn Dancer, Green Line Express and Diable Rouge.

Seeking to become the second mare to win the San Juan Capistrano, Miss Alleged is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the 53rd running of the Grade I race.

Second to Kostroma in the Santa Barbara Handicap in her last appearance, the 1991 Eclipse Award winner also will seek to give trainer Charlie Whittingham his 15th victory in the 1 3/4-mile turf run. McCarron has the mount.

San Luis Rey winner Fly Till Dawn is the 4-1 second choice and 121-pound highweight. Pat Valenzuela replaces injured Laffit Pincay on the 6-year-old Swing Till Dawn horse.

The rest of the field: Provins (Eddie Delahoussaye, 5-1), Wall Street Dancer (Pat Day, 12-1), Capel Meister (Joe Steiner, 30-1), Aksar (Gary Stevens, 6-1), Berillon (Corey Nakatani, 15-1), Theatre Critic (Alex Solis, 6-1) and Cool Gold Mood (Kent Desormeaux, 8-1). Missionary Ridge was scratched in favor of Monday’s San Jacinto Handicap, and Theatre Critic is also entered in the closing-day stakes. Jones said a decision would be made this morning about which race Theatre Critic would run.

Whittingham, who is aiming for his first Capistrano this decade after winning it seven times during the 1980s, appears confident. “The distance is (Miss Alleged’s) cup of tea, and she’s already shown she can beat the colts.”

Miss Alleged earned her Eclipse Award last year by defeating males in both the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Hollywood Turf Cup.

Heavily favored Defensive Play easily won the $171,300 Excelsior Handicap Saturday at Aqueduct.

Second in the San Bernardino Handicap and third in the Santa Anita Handicap in his previous two starts, the 3-5 favorite beat Alyten by 4 1/4 lengths while running the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 4/5. Trained by Bobby Frankel, Defensive Play was ridden by David Flores.

Will To Reign was third.

Horse Racing Notes

Gum won the All-American Handicap at Golden Gate Fields by two lengths. Forty Niner Days was second, a neck in front of Prudent Manner. Favored Notorious Pleasure was fifth. The race was simulcast at Santa Anita. . . . Chris McCarron also won Saturday with Silver Ending, Gaelic Wine and Carnival Baby, who is owned by John Mabee and trained by Gary Jones. . . . One week after he suffered a minor heart attack, trainer Willard Proctor, 76, was released from Arcadia Methodist Hospital Friday. . . . Trainer Charlie Whittingham’s other San Juan Capistrano winners: Corn Husker (1957), Royal Living (1959), Fiddle Isle (1970), Cougar II (1971), Practicante (1972), La Zanzara (1975), Exceller (1978), Obraztsovy (1981), Erins Isle (1983), Load The Cannons (1984), Prince True (1985), Dahar (1986), Rosedale (1987) and Nasr El Arab (1989).