THOROUGHBRED RACING : Winner Has a Classic Agenda

A sprinter at the start of his career in Europe and a horse who has never won at 1 1/4 miles in the United States, Twilight Agenda will go to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in two weeks after a narrow victory at a mile on grass.

The Classic is 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 31, and trainer Wayne Lukas says: “I still think we are not without chance. The handicap division has been difficult on a lot of horses, and although we’re stretching his limitations, the only way we’re going to look good at that distance is to go in there with a horse at the top of his game.”

Twilight Agenda’s fourth unsuccessful try at 1 1/4 miles resulted in a last-place finish in the Hollywood Gold Cup in late June. Sent to Lukas’ farm to rest, the 6-year-old son of Devil’s Bag returned Saturday and won by a nose over Luthier Enchanteur in the $110,300 Koester Handicap at Santa Anita.

A year ago, at Churchill Downs, Twilight Agenda ran second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Black Tie Affair, in the $3-million Classic. Saturday’s victory was worth $65,300 to his owner, Walter Haefner, an entrepreneur who lives in Switzerland, and increased Twilight Agenda’s total to $2.1 million.

Of the 60 horses who have earned more than $2 million, only seven are still active, and the Koester brought together two--Twilight Agenda and Golden Pheasant. Neither was favored, however, with the entry of Leger Cat and As Que To going off at 12-5. Golden Pheasant’s earnings total of $2.4 million stayed the same after a sixth-place finish. Luthier Enchanteur finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Bourgogne, with Leger Cat fourth, another half-length back.

Twilight Agenda paid $7.80 to win with a time of 1:33 1/5, three-fifths of a second slower than the track record. Ridden by Chris McCarron, Twilight Agenda ended a six-race losing streak, winning for the first time since Kent Desormeaux rode him in the San Pasqual Handicap in January.

Bourgogne and Desert Dirham set the early pace. Desert Dirham, who tossed his jockey, Paul Atkinson, and nearly got away from his handlers in the walking ring before the race, was on the lead at the head of the stretch. Twilight Agenda, who had been pinned against the rail by Luthier Enchanteur, was in fourth place, McCarron having swung him to the outside.

“He gave me a big effort,” McCarron said. “When we hit the wire, I thought we had it won. But then when I came back (with the horse), everybody was calling it both ways, and then I didn’t know for sure.”

Golden Pheasant, winner of the Arlington Million in 1990 and the Japan Cup last year, was using the Koester as a prep for next month’s Japan Cup. He was last after a half-mile and never threatened.

*

This could be a big weekend for Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown champion whose career never took off as a stallion.

Zoman, a 5-year-old son of Affirmed, won Saturday’s $750,000 Budweiser International at Laurel, and today another Affirmed offspring, Flawlessly, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the $125,000 Las Palmas Handicap for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Owned by Prince Fahd Salman of Saudi Arabia, Zoman held off the 7-5 favorite, Sillery, by a head in the 1 1/4-mile Laurel turf race. Sillery, second for the second consecutive year, finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Contested Bid. Leariva, winner of the International last year, ran fourth, and Southland-based Stark South was fifth after setting the pace for a half-mile.

After the race, Zoman’s trainer, Paul Cole, said that he is considering the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which would be Zoman’s first try on dirt.

“It’s tough to pass this horse when he’s in front,” said Alan Munro, who rode Zoman. The winner paid $17 and his time was 2:01 2/5 over a course labeled as yielding. Zoman had won races in France, Ireland, Italy and Great Britain.

*

In another stake on the International card, the Bill Shoemaker-trained Glen Kate won the $250,000 Laurel Dash by three lengths. Laffit Pincay rode the winner, who paid $9 after running six furlongs on grass in 1:10 2/5.

Another Laurel winner, the French filly Marble Maiden, is headed for trainer Gary Jones at Santa Anita after a 2 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 All Along Stakes.

Marble Maiden, who is owned by Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum, is a possibility for the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita on Nov. 8.