SANTA ANITA : Denmar’s Dream Easily Wins San Miguel Stakes, Pays $19.80

Figuring the distance was more in Denmar’s Dream’s favor, co-owner Marvin Malmuth chose to run the 3-year-old Mining gelding in the $81,225 San Miguel Stakes Saturday rather than the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes today.

But after the way Denmar’s Dream drew away in the final eighth of a mile Saturday, his connections might have a tinge of regret that they didn’t wait for the longer and more lucrative race today.

Second to Altazarr early, Denmar’s Dream got the lead under Alex Solis before a half-mile, then surged to a seven-length victory in 1:08 3/5 for six furlongs over a track labeled good.

Altazarr, the 2-1 second choice, beat Boss Soss by a half-length for second. Yappy, the 13-10 favorite, finished fifth, his first loss in four starts.

Beaten by 15 lengths by Stuka--and by four by Altazarr--in the Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup in his previous start, Denmar’s Dream made it two victories in three races at Santa Anita, paying $19.80.

“He had worked three times since the Prevue and we felt he would improve,” trainer Ian Jory said. “I didn’t give Alex any specific instructions. We felt we were the fastest horse in there . . . we just wanted him to rate a little bit, and he did very well.

“I don’t know if he’ll (go a longer distance). The El Camino Real Derby (at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 23 at Bay Meadows) is a possibility.”

Solis was the third rider in four races for Denmar’s Dream, and he isn’t eager to give up his place.

“I had never been on this horse before, but he was easy to ride,” Solis said. “He broke very strongly, but when (Altazarr) rushed up, my horse settled nice. He was on the bit real strong, though, and I knew I was sitting on a lot of horse. I just sat and waited and, at the eighth pole, he changed leads and it was over. He finished out real strong.”

Yappy, who had won races at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Bay Meadows, was never a factor in his first defeat.

“I had to urge him to get at the leaders today,” Pat Valenzuela said. “I got up about three or four lengths behind them, and he stopped running. In his previous races, he had pulled me to the leaders, but he didn’t do that at all today. I hope it was just the track and nothing more than that.”

Kingdom Found, who broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths in his second start, is the 3-1 favorite for the $110,600 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes today at Santa Anita.

Trained by Gary Jones, the 3-year-old son of The Bart will be ridden by Corey Nakatani in the absence of the injured Kent Desormeaux. Since his victory at 3-5 odds on Dec. 4, Kingdom Found has worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 and five furlongs in 59 2/5.

Moscow Changes, the beaten favorite in the California Cup Juvenile, is the 7-2 second choice and he should be more comfortable at seven furlongs, today’s distance. In his four starts around one turn, the Moscow Ballet gelding has two victories and two seconds. Chris McCarron will ride for trainer Howard Zucker.

Claimed by Darrell Vienna for $32,000, Offshore Pirate will try for his second consecutive victory and third in four starts. The 4-1 third choice will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela and will race with Lasix for the first time.

The other entrants are Lucky’s First One, Boating Pleasure, El Atroz, Enlightened Energy, Glowing Crown and Goldigger’s Dream.

Trainer Bruce Jackson was as surprised as anyone else after watching Jovial’s easy $31.40 victory in the seventh race Friday.

“It was unbelievable,” Jackson said after the 6-year-old won for the first time since July 22, 1990. “I’m still trying to figure it out. To be honest, I thought the horse was finished. We were excited going into the race because with only five horses entered, we knew we’d get $1,500 for running fifth.”

Jovial, who won Hollywood Park’s Swaps and Cinema as a 3-year-old, had lost eight in a row before Friday. He had continued to train well, but wasn’t showing anything in his races.

“I always thought this horse was better than In Excess,” Jackson said. “I mean, we knew we had ability. For some reason, though, he had quit being competitive in his races. Lately, I’d been trying to sell him, and it wouldn’t have taken a great offer.”

Jovial gave the team of Jackson and jockey Mickey Walls its second longshot winner in as many days. On Thursday, Going Out Dancing, also the longest shot in a field of five, paid $61.40.

Horse Racing Notes

Southern Truce made it four consecutive victories for owner Regal Rose Stable and trainer Roger Stein when she won the third race Saturday. The 5-year-old Truce Maker mare has two victories on dirt and two on turf during her streak and is 13 for 25 lifetime. . . . Bag, whose lofty reputation stems from a 16-length maiden victory in 1991, finished last in his comeback Saturday. Bag hadn’t started since finishing 32 1/4 lengths behind Arazi in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Wild Harmony, the 6-5 favorite, won the allowance race, beating Real West. . . . Jockeys David Flores, Martin Pedroza and Corey Nakatani each won twice Saturday. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover of more than $95,000 for today.