THOROUGHBRED RACING : A Champion and Prolific Sire, Flying Paster, Found Dead at 16

Flying Paster, a multiple stakes winner and an outstanding sire in California, died last Saturday at 16 at Cardiff Stud Farm in Paso Robles.

Stephen Sahadi, Cardiff’s farm manager, said Wednesday that tests were still being performed to determine the cause of death.

The winner of the 1978 Del Mar Futurity and 1979 Santa Anita Derby, but perhaps best known for chasing Spectacular Bid on several occasions, Flying Paster was found dead at 6:45 a.m.

“There were no apparent signs of struggle,” Sahadi said. “There were no injury marks. He had a history of a heart murmur, so it could be that he had a heart attack.”

In a career that spanned 27 races for owners Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ridder and trainer Gordon Campbell, Flying Paster finished with 13 victories, seven seconds and two thirds and earnings of $1,127,460.

A son of Gummo out of the mare Procne, Flying Paster sired 30 stakes winners, including millionaire Flying Continental, Approved To Fly, Letthebighossroll, Flying Julia, Endow and Hasty Pasty.

A field of seven is likely to be entered this morning for the $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, the final leg of the American Championship Racing Series.

Paseana, the first female to compete in the ACRS, is the probable favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race, which will be televised nationally by ABC with post time at 2:42 p.m.

A winner of seven stakes in a row against her own gender, Paseana will carry 119 pounds Sunday, eight less than she carried in her two-length victory in the Vanity Handicap on July 19. She toted 118 in winning the San Gorgonio Handicap last Jan. 5 at Santa Anita, the last time she carried less than 119.

The only other Pacific Classic starter who is unbeaten this year arrived at Del Mar early Tuesday morning. Jolie’s Halo, who has won both of his 1992 starts, took a van ride from Philadelphia Park to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, flew to Ontario, then took another van to Del Mar.

“He traveled better than (groom) Soldier (Wilson) and I did,” said Sean Crowell, the assistant to trainer Bob Camac. “Today was a look-around day. He jogged a mile the wrong way on the track. Our barns are winterized, so there’s a wall (enclosing the shed row). He’s not used to all this action or the hot-walking machines. It’s a new grandstand, a new track, so we just wanted to let him look around.”

Jolie’s Halo, who won the Iselin Handicap in his last start, probably will work three-eighths of a mile Friday or Saturday morning.

The other top contender in the Classic is Another Review, who bounced back after a disappointing effort in the Hollywood Gold Cup with a victory in the San Diego Handicap.

Successful in four of his last five starts, the 4-year-old Buckaroo colt worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 Tuesday morning.

“He went well,” trainer Chris Speckert said . “What’s done is done. No one is going to tell me how the race will set up, so there’s no way to tell until they open the gate.”

The other horses likely to be entered this morning are Claret, Missionary Ridge, Defensive Play and Reign Road.

Because Claret, second to Another Review in the San Diego, wasn’t an early nominee, he will have to be supplemented for $45,000.

Hollywood Juvenile winner Altazarr heads a field of seven 2-year-olds entered Wednesday for Friday’s $80,250 Balboa Stakes at seven furlongs.

Altazarr, trained by Brian Mayberry, won the Juvenile by 3 1/2 lengths after an easy maiden victory five weeks earlier. Eddie Delahoussaye will ride the Relaunch colt, who will carry top weight of 121 pounds.

The rest of the field includes Wheeler Oil, Crafty, Velvet Cub, Adamax, Devil Diamond and the filly Fit To Lead.

A son of Jeblar, Wheeler Oil finished in a dead heat with Boss Soss in the De Anza Stakes, but he must break from the rail Friday. Crafty broke his maiden by four lengths in his second start, and Devil Diamond, who was the beaten favorite in his first three appearances, won by six lengths on July 29. Kent Desormeaux will ride Devil Diamond for trainer Gary Jones and owners John and Betty Mabee.

Horse Racing Notes

Hector Torres, who rode Music King in Monday’s fifth race, was suspended for five days, beginning Saturday. Music King finished seventh but was disqualified and placed last because of an incident that led to Main Choice and Kent Desormeaux going down early in the stretch. Torres was cited for crossing over without sufficient clearance. . . . Pat Valenzuela was excused from his mounts Wednesday when he complained about lightheadedness after spending time in the sweat box in the jockey’s room.

Entries will be taken today for Saturday’s Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Blacksburg, who won a division of the Oceanside Stakes and came back to win the La Jolla Handicap, will try for his third added-money victory of the meeting. Other probables are Major Impact, Daros, Free At Last, L’Honorable, May I Inquire, River Majesty, Royal Torrent and Smiling And Dancin.