OAK TREE : Delahoussaye’s Cup Overflows Again With Two More Winners

Eddie Delahoussaye enjoyed himself so much the week before that he decided to do it again.

Successful in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Classic with Thirty Slews and A.P. Indy, respectively, Delahoussaye won the California Cup III versions Saturday at Santa Anita.

After beginning with Answer Do in the Sprint, Delahoussaye completed his afternoon with a come-from-behind victory on June’s Reward in the $250,000 California Cup Classic.

A favorite has yet to win the Cal Cup’s richest race. Charmonnier, the 6-5 favorite, finished third, a year after he upset odds-on choice Best Pal at 28-1.

A 4-year-old son of Hail Bold King and the 4-1 second choice, June’s Reward rallied to beat Flying Continental by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:49 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

June’s Reward hadn’t won since June 20, 1991, and his only other victory on dirt came in his first start two months before that.

Third in the Del Mar Derby last year, owner Ken Porter’s gelding finished seventh twice and eighth before being rested by trainer Neil French.

In the fourth race of his comeback, June’s Reward put everything together with the help of Delahoussaye.

“It was a great ride by Eddie,” French said after the biggest victory of his 16-year career. “It was a real tough decision whether to go in the (turf) Mile or this race, but we felt we’d take a shot at this.

“He tailed off badly after the Del Mar Derby. His (hoofs) were badly bruised and we had to turn him out. This is quite a thrill.”

Said Delahoussaye: “The last time I rode this horse at Del Mar (Sept. 3), we ended up in a lot of trouble and got beat. . . . In the paddock today, Neil said, ‘I need this one.’ It feels good to go out and get it for him.”

In the other Cal Cup races:

SPRINT--Third in 1990 and second last year, Answer Do rallied from to beat favored Gundaghia by a half-length in 1:08 1/5 for the six furlongs.

Winless since Feb. 23, the 6-year-old To-Agouri-Mou gelding stalked Gundaghia, the 9-5 choice, and 25-1 shot Fabulous Champ, then took the lead in the final yards.

“I knew he’d run well today because he warmed up very well,” said Delahoussaye, who beat Answer Do in last year’s Sprint with Letthebighossroll. “We got caught in a little bit of traffic at the half-mile pole and that was the only real worry. Things opened up at the quarter-pole and I knew then that we would win.”

MILE--Blaze O’Brien became the fifth and final favorite to win, defeating 10-1 shot Bruho by 1 1/2 lengths.

The 6-5 favorite and 123-pound highweight finished third, beaten by only a length, in last year’s Mile despite having nowhere to go through most of the stretch. He didn’t have such a problem Saturday, getting the lead under Gary Stevens in the final sixteenth and winning in 1:34 4/5.

“It was a very roughly run race,” Stevens said. “Fortunately, I was back behind it all in the clear. Once we turned into the backside, my main concern was to keep him out of trouble. There was a big traffic jam up front. I figured I was riding the best horse and kept him outside.

“I figured the other horses weren’t of the same caliber. He showed it in the stretch run.”

DISTAFF--Bel’s Starlet was the shortest price on the program and she didn’t disappoint, but her supporters and Kent Desormeaux had some anxious moments.

Trapped behind horses entering the stretch, Desormeaux and the 3-5 favorite squeezed through the narrowest of openings along the rail, then went on to a 3 1/2-length victory over Another Natalie and 10 other fillies and mares.

Trained by Richard Mandella, the 5-year-old Bel Bolide mare has won the Distaff two consecutive years and now has four victories from five starts on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. She completed about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13 2/5 Saturday.

“She was so much the best,” Desormeaux said. “I really would have been upset if she wouldn’t have gotten through in the stretch. There was just a little gap. I dropped her head and she just shot through.

“But for a moment, I was scared to death. I didn’t think I was getting through, that’s for sure. I still can’t believe I got through.”

JUVENILE--Owner Richard Stephen didn’t take long to recoup his investment on Boating Pleasure.

Claimed by trainer Wally Dollase for $40,000 on Oct. 8, the 3-year-old Flying Paster colt earned $55,000 with a 1 1/4-length victory over Goldigger’s Dream and a dozen others.

“I claimed this horse from (trainer) Dave Hofmans, who’s a friend of mine,” Dollase said.

“He said if I didn’t put in a claim for the horse, others would, and to go for it. So, I got lucky. I liked the horse because I felt he was bred for two turns and once he got to the lead in his last race, he pulled away, didn’t pull himself up like Itsallgreektome likes to do.”

The winning time was 1:45 for the 1 1/16 miles and the final sixteenth was run in a slow seven seconds. Moscow Changes, the 13-10 favorite, was third.

JUVENILE FILLIES--After finishing eighth at 21-1 against $32,000 maidens in her first start Aug. 6 at Del Mar, Incindress has done nothing wrong since.

The roan daughter of Incinderator made it three in a row with a four-length victory in the final race of the day.

Coming off of a six-length victory at Fairplex Park and a five-length score at Bay Meadows, Incindress, the 3-1 second choice, was never far off the lead under Danny Sorenson, then took charge at the top of the stretch. She completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45 for trainer Bruce Jackson, who also owns the filly in partnership with Stephen Sahadi.

MATRON--Lovely Habit completed a big day for owner-breeders John and Betty Mabee with a 1 1/4-length victory over African. Besides Lovely Habit, the Mabees also own Bel’s Starlet and they bred Boating Pleasure.

Providing Hofmans with his second victory of the afternoon, the 5-year-old Habitony mare has now won three of her last four. She was the even-money favorite under Stevens while coupled with Bel Darling, who finished ninth. African finished 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Number’s Game.

DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP--Heavily favored Southern Truce made the lead without any pressure and won by seven lengths in the first race of the day.

Ridden by Chris McCarron, the 4-year-old Truce Maker filly and 7-10 choice set very slow fractions (23 4/5, 48 1/5 and 1:12 2/5 for six furlongs) and sprinted away when asked for trainer Roger Stein. Picnic In The Park was second, two lengths ahead of Mydadskleven.

STARTER HANDICAP--His Legacy made it two consecutive victories in the longest Cal Cup race, defeating Worry Free by two lengths in 2:30 2/5 for the 1 1/2 miles.

Owned by the Legacy Ranch and trained by Hofmans, the 7-year-old Pocketful In Vail gelding broke on top in the marathon, was taken off the pace by Laffit Pincay, found room early in the stretch and ran down 7-1 shot Worry Free. Coco’s Main Man was another length back in third.

Horse Racing Notes

The total attendance for California Cup III was 65,272 and the total handle was $11,633,953. Both figures were increases from last year. The on-track attendance was 40,876, also an increase.

Flawlessly is the 4-5 morning line favorite for the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes today at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The entry of Super Staff and Polemic is the 3-1 second choice, then comes the entry of Marble Maiden and Rosefich (9-2), Suivi (8-1), Fantastic Ways (12-1) and Urban Sea and Campagnarde (20-1).

Paul Atkinson, who suffered cuts and bruises in a spill on Thursday, won’t ride again until Wednesday, opening day at Hollywood Park.