OAK TREE : Second Chance for Let’s Elope

The disqualification of Let’s Elope in the Beverly D. Stakes was booed at Arlington International, but that outcry was mild compared to the furor that the stewards’ decision caused in Australia.

Any possible injustice for an Australian racehorse in the United States is perceived in Australia as a reminder of Phar Lap, the Australian sensation who died mysteriously in California after reinforcing his fame at Caliente in 1932.

New Zealand-bred and an Australian champion, Let’s Elope won the $500,000 Beverly D. by a head on Aug. 28 but was dropped to third place when the stewards honored foul claims by the jockeys whose horses ran second and third.

Flawlessly, with Chris McCarron aboard, became the winner, and Via Borghese, with Jorge Velasquez, was moved up to second after she had finished a neck behind Flawlessly. Let’s Elope’s owners, Margaret and Dennis Marks, settled for a $55,000 prize instead of the $300,000 that went to the winner.

Flawlessly has been described by her trainer, Charlie Whittingham, as “a horse you could put in your parlor,” but even this mild-mannered mare came unhinged when the jeers cascaded from the grandstand onto the winner’s circle after the Beverly D. That was the kind of reaction that horseplayers usually save for a 1-2 favorite who doesn’t win.

The change in the order of finish came after the stewards deliberated for 17 minutes. The crowd found the outcome harder to swallow, trainer Ron McAnally said, because the head-on replay of the stretch run wasn’t shown until about five minutes after the disqualification was announced. Other replay angles weren’t as incriminating for Let’s Elope, who has been in McAnally’s care since early this year.

“The pan shot (of the finish) didn’t show that much to me,” McAnally said, “because neither of the other riders looked like they had been forced to take up. But that shot was misleading. When Velasquez claimed foul, I still wasn’t worried. But then McCarron, being the expert that he is, also claimed, and then I thought we were in trouble. I didn’t think we were going to survive a doubleheader.”

Sunday, Let’s Elope will get another chance when she faces four males in the $300,000 Oak Tree Invitational at Santa Anita. First place in the 1 1/2-mile grass race is worth $180,000.

Included in the field is Kotashaan, who set a track record the last time he ran at Santa Anita, in the San Juan Capistrano in April, and Luazur, the French colt who upset him at Del Mar. The field: Luazur, Pat Day; D’Arros, Gary Stevens; Navire, McCarron; Let’s Elope, Pat Valenzuela; and Kotashaan, Kent Desormeaux. All will carry 124 pounds except Let’s Elope, who will carry 121 because of her sex.

Let’s Elope’s overall record is 11 victories and four thirds in 23 starts. She made her first start for McAnally at Hollywood Park in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on July 1. Let’s Elope hadn’t run in seven months, since a seventh-place finish in the Japan Cup, but she won after stalking the pace.

For her next race, McAnally picked the 1 1/8-mile Ramona Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 7. That time, Let’s Elope and Pat Valenzuela were far back, 12 lengths behind the lead, and a late run left them two lengths behind Flawlessly, North America’s reigning female grass champion. Let’s Elope got an eight-pound concession from Flawlessly that day; they ran at even weights in the Beverly D.

Horse Racing Notes

Sunday’s $200,000 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds brings together Winning Pact, Ramblin Guy and Ferrara, the first three finishers in last month’s seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity. . . . Brian Mayberry, who trains Ramblin Guy, the Hollywood Juvenile winner, will send out the 2-5 morning-line favorite, the entry of Sardula and Rhapsodic, in today’s Oak Leaf Stakes. Undefeated Sardula’s two victories have totaled 17 1/2 lengths.