SANTA ANITA : A Look at the Best of a Meeting That Didn’t Have Best of Times

Santa Anita’s 56th winter-spring meeting will be remembered as the one management couldn’t wait to end.

Just about everything that could go wrong did. The problems were immediate on opening day, last Dec. 26. A series of problems with the new tote machines cost the track millions of dollars in handle and a lot of good will. Then, the rains came--and came and came--eventually forcing a mixed Santa Anita-Bay Meadows program on Jan. 18 and the cancellation of two days of racing.

Santa Anita chose not to make up those two days and is hoping to end its 83-day season with a whimper. Not wanting to exceed $250 million in on-track handle because it would be pushed into a higher state-tax bracket, the track has cut back to one trifecta a day, and consideration was even given at one point to canceling today’s program.

Despite all this, there have been many memorable moments on the track. and here is one man’s opinion on the bests of the meeting:

Best older horse--Jovial. Sure, Sir Beaufort won the Santa Anita Handicap, the richest race of the meeting, but the feeling is that Jovial is still a better horse. He ended a long losing streak with a victory on New Year’s Day, came back to win the San Pasqual Handicap and was impressive in winning the Oaklawn Handicap, beating Lil E. Tee and Best Pal last Saturday.

Best older filly, best mare and grass filly, best mare--Exchange, on all counts. One of the best claims of all time, the Explodent mare has replaced Paseana as the queen of owners Sidney and Jenny Craig’s stable. She was perfect in three starts at the meeting, culminated by a nose victory over Trishyde in the Santa Barbara Handicap after a stirring stretch duel.

Best 3-year-old and development horse--Personal Hope. Winner of only a maiden race when the season started, the Storm Bird colt earned the last of his three victories in the Santa Anita Derby, putting away the filly Eliza and holding off Union City.

Best 3-year-old filly--Eliza. Her triumph in the Santa Anita Oaks was awesome and she ran much better than a lot of people thought she would in the Santa Anita Derby. The daughter of Mt. Livermore will blow away her rivals in the Kentucky Oaks.

Best grass horse--To be determined. Kotashaan will wrap up this honor if he wins the San Juan Capistrano on Sunday. He already has victories in the San Luis Obispo and San Luis Rey and was second to Star Of Cozzene in the San Marcos. The most promising grass performer at the meeting, however, was Alnasr Alwasheek. He was dominant in his American debut and could be a very important horse this summer.

Best sprinter--Gray Slewpy. He ran only once at the meeting, but he blew away his rivals in the Potrero Grande and that was enough for him to defend the title he won last year. Given hishistory of running so well fresh, maybe his connections should keep him in the barn until the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old has lost only once in seven tries on the main track.

Best claimer--Never Black. He ran only once in a claiming race this season--and that was for $100,000--but he gets the nod. Trained by Bobby Frankel, he won all three of his starts over the Santa Anita turf course, including the Miramontes Handicap. Pinkie Schoop, who will be shooting for her fifth victory of the meeting, also merits mention.

Best trainer--Mike Mitchell. It’s hard to believe that about a year ago at this time, Mitchell was close to giving up training to become a jockey agent. One victory ahead of Ron McAnally going into the final four days--30-29--he has won with more than 40% of his starts and has started 38 fewer horses than McAnally.

Best jockey--Gary Stevens. He’s on his way to his fourth local title. Kent Desormeaux has also had a remarkable meeting, considering all the time he missed because of injuries.

Best apprentice jockey--Sal Gonzalez Jr. The 17-year-old nephew of trainer Paco Gonzalez has shown promise while winning six races, and he picked up his first stakes win Sunday, guiding Visible Gold to a 23-1 upset in the Santa Anita Budweiser Breeders’ Cup.

Best achievement--Mitchell’s winning percentage.

Best race--Santa Barbara Handicap. The duel between Exchange and Trishyde won’t soon be forgotten, but the Santa Anita Handicap and Santa Anita Derby weren’t too bad, either.