OAK TREE : Fanatic Boy Makes Santa Anita His Turf in Comeback Victory

The Santa Anita turf course brings out the best in Fanatic Boy.

A disappointment every place else since coming to this country from Argentina, the 5-year-old son of Mat Boy rallied from last to beat Carnival Baby, Incessant and five others in the $82,500 Henry P. Russell Handicap on Wednesday at Santa Anita.

It was only the second victory in Fanatic Boy’s last 14 starts, and both have come on the local grass. He won the Pinjara Handicap last Feb. 2, beating Pacific Classic winner Missionary Ridge, then came back and was second to that one in the San Jacinto Handicap on April 27.

Trained by Ron McAnally, the 3-1 second choice beat 5-1 shot Carnival Baby by a head and completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 2/5.

Eddie Delahoussaye, who was aboard for the horse’s victory in the Pinjara, had Fanatic Boy close early, then dropped back to last when other riders elected to move down the backside into the slow pace (23 2/5, 48 1/5 and 1:13 for six furlongs).

Still last with less than a quarter of a mile to go, Delahoussaye angled out and was able to get up in the final jumps.

“He ran very well,” Delahoussaye said. “I worked him a couple of weeks ago and I told (assistant trainer) Eduardo (Inda) that if I rode him I would get him to show more speed away from the gate.

“He did drop back, but that was more the other horses picking it up than anything. I didn’t want to go outside and I couldn’t get through, so I basically sat and waited. At the top of the stretch, they were really strung out and I would have had to go really wide, so I waited and angled out after we straightened away. He really accelerated today, and we were able to get up.”

Beaten a total of a length in his previous two starts, Carnival Baby lost another tough one after opening up 1 1/2 lengths in the final furlong.

“I almost picked up a win, but not quite,” said Gary Stevens, who inherited the mount from Corey Nakatani. “After the scratches, we figured to be on the lead or at least close to it. We were able to go a long way, but not quite far enough.”

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Preparing for his first start since finishing last in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Twilight Agenda worked five furlongs in 59 3/5 Tuesday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas.

The Devil’s Bag horse will face Golden Pheasant and others in the $100,000 Col. F.W. Koester Handicap at one mile on the turf Saturday. Twilight Agenda has won five of his 12 starts on grass.

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Flawlessly, who has won both of her starts this year, worked five furlongs on turf in 59 3/5 Wednesday morning getting ready for Sunday’s $125,000 Las Palmas Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. The 4-year-old Affirmed filly won the Beverly Hills at Hollywood Park and the Ramona at Del Mar, then became ill before a scheduled start in the Beverly D. at Arlington Park.

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After riding the first race Wednesday, Nakatani took off the remainder of his mounts, still smarting from being kicked by Itsallgreektome in the morning.

“He kicked me after I jumped off following a workout (five furlongs in 59 4/5),” Nakatani said. “It was on right side, near the middle of my stomach. I’m going to see a doctor for treatment and I hope to ride (today).”

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Casual Lies, fourth in the Goodwood Handicap on Sunday in his first start since the Belmont Stakes, won’t be going to Florida for the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Rather, owner/trainer Shelly Riley will run the 3-year-old in either the $100,000 Volante Handicap Oct. 25 at Santa Anita or the $50,000 San Joaquin Invitational Handicap Nov. 1 at Bay Meadows, both of which are run on the turf.

“I just think in the paddock and on the track, you could tell he was 3 years old,” Riley said. “He just seemed immature next to those horses (in the Goodwood).

“Don’t get me wrong, though. I think he ran a monster race, considering everything, and it should set him up perfectly for his next one. I’m just not sure the Breeders’ Cup is the right thing for him right now. We’d have to ship him to Florida, worry about a sloppy track and all that . . . and then he still might run a great race and finish fourth or fifth.”

Horse Racing Notes

Fanatic Boy now has two victories and a second in four appearances on the Santa Anita turf. . . . Eduardo Inda saddled Fanatic Boy because Ron McAnally is in New Jersey preparing Sea Cadet and Silver Ending for Friday’s $500,000 Meadowlands Cup. . . . No decision has been reached yet on whether Pat Valenzuela will be able to ride Oak Tree Invitational winner Navarone in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Valenzuela is under contract to ride for owner Allen Paulson, who will represented by Fraise in the 1 1/2-mile Turf. “I told (Navarone’s trainer Rodney) Rash I’d have an answer for him by Monday for sure,” said Valenzuela’s agent, Jeff Franklin. . . . Digression, the defending champion, Polaris Star and Super May were all scratched from the Henry P. Russell. . . . Valenzuela and Kent Desormeaux each won twice Wednesday.