DEL MAR : Slerp Stretches Out, Wins El Cajon Stakes

The way things have gone in the last year, Allan Richie probably wishes he had gotten involved in thoroughbred racing sooner.

Owner or part owner of four horses, Richie made it 10 victories--including four stakes--since he got into the business when favored Slerp won the $56,325 El Cajon Stakes on Monday.

It was Slerp’s third stakes victory and first try around two turns. Successful in four of 10 starts around one turn, including victories in the San Pedro and Harry Henson, the 3-year-old Slewpy colt beat Siberian Summer by a half-length in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

“This horse is all heart,” said Richie, who owns a car dealership in nearby Encinitas.

“We thought this horse would run long, but you don’t know how they’ll do until they stretch out. This was a good spot to try it before we got to Santa Anita.”

Claimed for $40,000 Jan. 17 by trainer Bob Hess for Richie, Slerp has earned more than $200,000.

Making his first start with Lasix and the 5-2 second choice, Siberian Summer outfinished Blinking Lights by a head.

*

A maiden who had finished a distant fourth in her career debut on Aug. 30, Mime’s Real scored a $116.60 surprise in the $81,600 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Assn. Stakes.

Ridden by Laffit Pincay and trained by Gerald Moerman, the 2-year-old Dr. Reality filly beat favored Jamie Nicole by a nose in 1:11 1/5 for the six furlongs.

“I thought she had a chance today,” Pincay said. “When I rode her the last time, she nearly went down on me at the break . . . then she showed speed, showed me she could run. But she got tired and I didn’t beat her up at the finish. So, today I figured I had a shot.”

Jamie Nicole, the 6-5 choice, finished seven lengths clear of Irish Anthem after having trouble at the start.

“I got squeezed big time coming out of the gate,” Pat Valenzuela said. “The inside horse came out and the outside horse came in. It was enough to cost a guy the race.”

*

Trainer Terry Knight was fined $1,500 by the Del Mar board of stewards for two separate incidents of excessive use of banamine, an anti-inflammatory medication.

The two horses in question, Old Time Romance, who finished fourth in the seventh race on Aug. 26, and Scheraldi, who finished fourth in the first race on Aug. 29, were disqualified from all purse monies and the purse was redistributed in the two races.

Horse Racing Notes

Corey Nakatani was fined $1,000 by the stewards for easing Auriga prematurely before the finish in Sunday’s fourth race. Auriga was going to be second behind longshot Cigliano in the race, but wound up being beaten by Lord Of Motion. . . . Jockey Gary Stevens won four times Monday. He swept the first three with longshots Orthos, Queen High and Tide Is High, then won the sixth on favored Viva El Capitan.

Seti I., the 5-2 favorite, beat Dream Of Fame by a length to win the $51,350 Special CHBPA Sandshark Stakes. . . . The Golden Eagle Farm entry of Devil Diamond and River Special is the 7-5 favorite for Wednesday’s $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, the closing-day feature. Seattle Sleet is next at 9-5, then comes Sudden Hush (3-1), Dare To Duel (5-1), Goldigger’s Dream (20-1) and Nautilus (30-1).

Highland Penny rallied wide from far back in a field of six older fillies and mares to beat Monica Faye by a neck in Belmont Park’s $47,000 Pebbles Purse. Monica Faye, who had a clear advantage in midstretch, finished six lengths ahead of Jinski’s World. Highland Penny, a 7-year-old daughter of Highland Blade-Penny Mart, covered 1 1/16 miles on a firm Widener Turf Course in 1:35 2/5 to earn $28,200 for Ravenbrook Farm with her first victory in seven starts this year. She returned $8.60, $5 and $4.40. Monica Faye paid $6.80 and $4.80, while Jinski’s World paid $3.40.

Bantan closed strongly over a sloppy track to win the $24,150 Abe’s Hope Purse by three lengths at Arlington International Racecourse. Howie Honey finished second in the seven-furlong race for Illinois-breds. Opal Klaus was a close third in the seven-horse lineup. Ridden by Mark Guidry, the winner paid $5, $3 and $2.20 and was timed in 1:24 4/5. Howie Honey returned $2.60 and $2.40. Opal Klaus paid $3.