SANTA ANITA : 75% of Eliza Is Enough to Win Easily in Oaks

After watching Eliza win the $219,200 Santa Anita Oaks on Sunday, it would be hard to convince many people that trainer Alex Hassinger believed she would be short in her first start of 1993.

Picking right up where she left off last year, the Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top 2-year-old filly defeated 28-1 shot Stalcreek by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:42 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

In doing so, the Mt. Livermore filly completed what was a memorable weekend for Pat Valenzuela and a less-than-memorable one for horse owner John Mabee.

Emulating Kent Desormeaux in 1992, Valenzuela followed up his Santa Anita Handicap upset aboard Sir Beaufort with a victory in the Oaks. Mabee, after watching Best Pal struggle home fifth as the favorite in the Big ‘Cap, saw Likeable Style lose for the first time in the Oaks. Unbeaten in three starts at the meeting, the 11-10 choice was never a factor after breaking slowly and finished sixth.

A loser only once in six starts, Eliza, a half-sister to 1991 Santa Anita Derby winner Dinard, tracked the pace of Dance For Vanny early, spurted clear around the turn, opened up five lengths with a furlong to run and the Oaks was history.

Stalcreek, who was no match for Likeable Style in the Santa Ysabel earlier in the meeting, beat Dance For Vanny, a 32-1 shot, by a length for the place.

Owner Allen Paulson and Hassinger were asked the inevitable question: What about a possible confrontation with the boys in the Santa Anita Derby, and then, possibly, the Kentucky Derby?

Hassinger said he had no desire to run in the Santa Anita Derby, which is less than a month away.

“Too bring her back against the boys in the Derby, that might knock the hell out of her,” he said. “I want to give her plenty of time between races.

“I thought I needed 10 more days with her, but obviously, we didn’t. She was not 100% fit today, but she won on class alone. We’re considering either the Fantasy (April 9 at Oaklawn Park) or the Ashland (April 17 at Keeneland) for her next race.

“She has a 100% competitive edge on a lot of horses. She showed what a true champion she is.”

Paulson and Valenzuela, who has ridden Eliza in all but her first start, seem willing to take on the males.

“My honest opinion is, she would give (males) a hell of a battle,” said Valenzuela. “If she doesn’t beat them, I think it would be close. In fact, I really think she can beat them.

“She’s unbelievable. She switched to her left lead going into the turn and just took off. She’s unreal, and to tell you the truth, Alex told me she’s about 75% fit right now. So imagine what’s going to happen when she gets to 100.”

Trainer Richard Mandella offered no excuses for Likeable Style’s lackluster performance, nor did jockey Gary Stevens.

“I got around the (clubhouse) turn in good order, and I was real happy with my position down the backside,” said Stevens. “I asked her to run leaving the half-mile pole and she was just flat. There was nothing there.

“She was handling the track fine. She felt good, but she didn’t respond at all when I asked her. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I left her race in the work (five furlongs in 59 3/5 on Tuesday) the other day. She worked awfully fast. Maybe it was too good a work.”

Horse Racing Notes

Best Pal, who failed in his bid to join John Henry as the only the second horse to win two Santa Anita Handicaps, came out of the race well and will probably make his next start in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 10. . . . Jovial, who finished fourth in the Big ‘Cap, and Star Recruit, who was beaten a nose by Sir Beaufort at 59-1, also could be participants in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap, a race Best Pal won last year. . . . Pat Valenzuela has six stakes victories at the meeting, two less than overall leader Gary Stevens. . . . Southern Truce, who upset Paseana in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap on Feb. 28, will be shipped to Golden Gate on Tuesday and will be a starter in the $100,000 Miss America Stakes on Saturday. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye had one winner Sunday and is one away from 5,000. . . . There was some solace for John Mabee over the weekend when Heart Of Joy won the $52,250 B. Thoughtful Handicap by two lengths over Worldly Possession. Coupled with Bel’s Starlet, who finished fourth, Heart Of Joy paid $3.40 as the 7-10 favorite.