THOROUGHBRED RACING : Despite Frankel’s Objections, Bertrando Runs--and Wins

If Bobby Frankel had his way, Bertrando wouldn’t have run in the $217,800 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

But owners Ed Nahem and Marshall Naify wanted the 4-year-old son of Skywalker to run in the second leg of the Charles H. Strub Series, so he was one of eight starters on yet another rainy day in Arcadia.

The way it turned out, the owners knew best--at least this time.

Making his second start since returning from nearly nine months on the sidelines, Bertrando won by nine lengths over the sloppy track.

In front the entire 1 1/8 miles under Chris McCarron, the 3-2 favorite Bertrando was timed in 1:51 1/5 for his fifth victory in eight starts.

“If it was my decision, I wouldn’t have run the horse,” Frankel said. “I just hope he comes out of the race as well as he went in. . . . The horse is my first concern.

“He has a lot of talent and there’s a lot of big races ahead. (Nahem) wanted to run and (Naify) went along with him. They’re the only owners who could overrule me. The others would listen to me. If this was a Juddmonte (Farms, another Frankel owner) horse, he wouldn’t have run.”

Third in the seven-furlong Malibu in his comeback, Bertrando probably will be the heavy favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Charles H. Strub Stakes on Feb. 7.

“He’s dead fit now, I guess,” Frankel said. “I wasn’t sure how far he’d run, but the way he ran today, I guess the (Strub) distance won’t be a problem.

“I’ve always liked this horse. I thought he was a better horse than A.P. Indy before they ran in the Santa Anita Derby, and he wasn’t right that day.”

Bertrando, coupled in the betting with Disposal, put away The Wicked North after six furlongs, then kept extending his advantage through the final quarter mile.

Star Recruit, seeking his third consecutive victory, was second, beating The Wicked North by three-quarters of a length. Daros was fourth, followed by Disposal, Never Round, Al Sabin and Siberian Summer.

“He’s a big, powerful running machine,” said McCarron of Bertrando, which he rode for the first time in the Malibu. Alex Solis rode the colt in his first six starts, when he was trained by Bruce Headley.

“Bobby was concerned about the race track, but he certainly handled it well. I would have to think he’s the horse to beat in the Strub.”

Corey Nakatani, who rode The Wicked North, wouldn’t mind another shot at Bertrando under different conditions. But he probably won’t get one. Kent Desormeaux will be back aboard The Wicked North when he returns to action.

“He ran pretty well, but the lack of training may have hurt him a little bit,” Nakatani said. “And he didn’t have any experience on a track like this and he was protecting himself a little bit, which was to be expected.

“He was kind of ducking and diving around out there, but he tried. Maybe next time he’ll have a fast track run on.”

As of Saturday night, today’s $100,000-added San Gorgonio Handicap was still scheduled on turf, but it will be moved to the main track if the rain continues.

Fourteen fillies and mares were entered Friday morning for the 1 1/8-mile race, including Kostroma, who will make her final start, if the race is run on turf. If it is switched to dirt, she will be scratched.

The 7-year-old mare will be bred to Forty Niner this spring.

Super Staff, who upset Flawlessly in the Las Palmas and Yellow Ribbon, then finished ahead of Kostroma in the Matriarch, was scratched Saturday from the San Gorgonio. Seven other entrants--Southern Truce, Laura Ly, Oiseau De Guerre, Now Showing, Shadha, La Kaldoun and Lite Light--were entered in a $60,000 stakes to be run Monday.

Eddie Delahoussaye was off his mounts for the second consecutive day and agent Terry Lipham said the rider, who is approaching 5,000 victories, might also stay home today and Monday.

Delahoussaye, who has 4,996 winners, is trying to become the 14th rider to reach 5,000. Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Angel Cordero, Jorge Velasquez, Larry Snyder, John Longden, Dave Gall, Sandy Hawley, Carl Gambardella, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Earlie Fires and Jacinto Vasquez are ahead of Delahoussaye.

Horse Racing Notes

Gary Stevens was also off his mounts Saturday. He rode the first race Friday, then took off the remainder of the program. . . . Jockeys Corey Black and Chris McCarron won twice Saturday. . . . Gilded Time, whom trainer Darrell Vienna has considered sending to Florida so he could train properly, worked a half-mile in 49 3/5 seconds on the turf Saturday morning.