SANTA ANITA : Val Des Bois Wins the El Rincon

Losing the mount on Corby proved profitable for Pat Valenzuela on Saturday.

While Chris McCarron was finishing seventh on the Blue Grass Stakes favorite in Kentucky, Valenzuela rode Val Des Bois to victory in the $134,000 El Rincon Handicap at Santa Anita.

Replacing Corey Nakatani on the 7-year-old Bellypha horse, Valenzuela found himself boxed in entering the stretch, but was able to find room and the 17-10 second choice took care of the rest.

He pulled away from 4-5 favorite Star Of Cozzene and went on to win by two lengths in 1:35 for the mile on turf.

This was the first victory since Sept. 11, 1991, for Val Des Bois, although he crossed the wire 3 1/2 lengths in front of four rivals in a March 17 allowance race. However, he was disqualified and placed third for interference in mid-stretch. At the same time, the El Rincon ended a four-race win streak for Star Of Cozzene, who was making his first start since Jan. 23.

“He responded very well the last quarter,” Valenzuela said. “I was just shaking the stick at him and tapping him. He responded really well.

“I saw that Gary Stevens (on Star Of Cozzene) was struggling to keep his horse on top of me, but I knew I could get out. I was just waiting until the last quarter. When I asked him to kick on, he went.”

Owned by Edmund Gann and trained by Bobby Frankel, Val Des Bois’ seventh victory in 28 races pushed his earnings past $733,000.

“Bobby made my job easy,” assistant trainer Humberto Ascanio said. “He got him ready. I just had to put the saddle on him. This horse has some kind of kick, and I think he’s better now than he’s ever been.”

Star Of Cozzene’s handlers weren’t upset with his performance and the El Rincon should set him up well for his next race, the Early Times Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on April 30. That is the first of a three-race series.

“He had no excuses today,” Stevens said of the runner-up. “The horse had some time off and he ran his eyeballs out. He came home the last eighth flying and I was just out-footed. He should benefit from the race.

“I was trying to hold the winner in at the top of the lane, but I just didn’t have enough horse.”

C. Sam Maggio, who set the pace most of the way, was third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Star Of Cozzene. Portoferraio was fourth, then came Tel Quel, Valenti and Fax News.

Apparently, the Illinois Derby, rather than the Kentucky Derby, is next for Devoted Brass.

Earlier in the week, the 3-year-old gelding, who was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, was bound for Churchill Downs, but owner Don Jordens has changed his mind.

“(Jordens) called me at home last night,” trainer Noble Threewitt said. “He said he was learning toward the Illinois Derby and that he was 90% sure he would run there.”

Run at Sportsman’s Park, the Illinois Derby is on May 8, the week after the Kentucky Derby, and has a $500,000 purse. “I suppose (Jordens) feels (the Illinois Derby) is an easier race and it has has the same purse,” Threewitt said.

Horse Racing Notes

Sham, who won the 1973 Santa Anita Derby before finishing second to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, died of an apparent heart attack at Walmac International in Lexington, Ky. Bred to five mares this year before he died in his stall, he was 23. A son of Pretense, Sham sired 43 stakes winners.

Fraise was given high weight of 123 pounds for the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, the closing-day feature at Santa Anita on April 18. . . . Second to Exchange in the Santa Ana Handicap last month, Party Cited is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for today’s feature, the $150,000 Santa Anita Budweiser Breeders’ Cup at a mile on turf. Trained by Rodney Rash, Party Cited will be going for her first victory in five U.S. starts. Other entrants are Gravieres, Wedding Ring, Afaladja, Gold Fleece and Visible Gold. Gary Stevens will ride the 118-pound highweight.

Stevens won three times Saturday and Pat Valenzuela had two winners. . . . Julio Garcia will begin riding at Santa Anita on Wednesday, according to agent Tony Matos. . . . Valenzuela’s victory aboard Val Des Bois was his ninth in a stakes. He is third in that category at the meeting behind Kent Desormeaux (12) and Stevens (11).