THOROUGHBRED RACING : The Wicked North Goes East for Today’s D.C. International

One of the best horses who won’t be running in the Breeders’ Cup will be busy this afternoon.

Perfect in two starts after being away from racing for nearly eight months, The Wicked North will try for his biggest victory in the $600,000 Washington D.C. International Mile at Laurel.

Owned by Philip Hersh and trained by David Bernstein, The Wicked North isn’t eligible for the Breeders’ Cup. Otherwise, he would probably be preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a race for which the 4-year-old Far North colt would have been considered a strong contender.

A winner of five of nine starts, The Wicked North has two victories, a second and a third in four races at Santa Anita and defeated 1992 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Thirty Slews in the Bing Crosby Handicap on Aug. 1 at Del Mar.

The Wicked North has proved his versatility and demonstrated a fondness for turf when beating The Tender Track in the $100,000 San Francisco Handicap on Labor Day at Bay Meadows.

Hersh’s colt will try to make it two consecutive grass victories in the International, which has been shortened twice in recent years. Originally run at 1 1/2 miles, it was lessened to 1 1/4 miles and will be run at a flat mile for the first time this year.

Corey Black, who was aboard for the victory in the Bing Crosby, has the mount today on The Wicked North, the 9-2 third choice in the field of eight at Laurel.

Furiously, who drew the rail, is the 3-1 favorite and will try to continue trainer Shug McGaughey’s hot streak. He won five stakes and six races in all on Belmont Park’s Breeders’ Cup Preview card last weekend.

The Wicked North, who finished ahead of Bertrando when second in the Malibu Stakes last Dec. 26, has trained well for the International and Bernstein isn’t concerned about the soft turf.

“I don’t feel the footing here will be a problem for him,” he said. “We feel that this is a good spot for him and that he’ll run a good race.”

The other entrants in the International are Cleone, who will be ridden by Pat Valenzuela, Buckhar, Inchinor, Finder’s Choice, Fourstars Allstar, who is also entered in the Laurel Dash on Sunday, and Maryland Moon.

The other stakes on today’s card at Laurel, which is in the middle of its International Turf Festival, is the $250,000 All Along at 1 1/8 miles. Black will ride Lady Blessington for Team Valor against a field that also includes Via Borghese, who won two in a row before finishing third in the Beverly D.

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Pacific Squall, a disappointing fourth at 2-5 odds in her return to racing on Thursday, is still a possibility for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“We’ll have to wait a couple of more days, at least, to see how she’s doing,” said trainer Paco Gonzalez, hoping the 4-year-old Storm Bird filly will be extended an invitation.

Running for the first time since Jan. 30, Pacific Squall was beaten by about 3 1/2 lengths in the mile race, which was run on the turf, not her best surface.

“She was coughing in the test barn after the race and I was concerned,” Gonzalez said. “It was just sand that was thrown back in her face during the race.

“I thought she was going to need a race, that’s why I had scratched her (two other times). She was very, very tired.”

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Bobby Frankel, on his way to an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top trainer, will have two starters in today’s $83,850 Henry P. Russell Handicap and entered three for Sunday’s $108,600 Las Palmas Handicap at Santa Anita.

Neither of the races has Breeders’ Cup significance and each will have only seven starters.

Frankel will be represented by D’arros and Russian Courage in the 1 1/4-mile Russell, but the 8-5 morning line favorite is Samourzakan.

A winner of three of six starts in France, Samourzakan will make his U.S. debut for trainer Bob Hess. In his next to last start overseas, the 4-year-old colt was second to Husband, who won the Rothmans International last week. Kent Desormeaux will ride Samourzakan, who will race on Lasix.

In the 1 1/8-mile Las Palmas, Frankel will start Gravieres, Skimble and Villandry. The other four entrants are Feminine Wiles, Potridee, Miatuschka and Campagnarde.

Horse Racing Notes

Jeanine Pincay, wife of jockey Laffit Pincay, gave birth to the couple’s first child Thursday at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Jean Laffit Pincay weighed eight pounds six ounces. Pincay, 46, has two children from his first marriage. . . . Gov. Pete Wilson has appointed lawyer Robert H. Tourtelot to the California Horse Racing Board, replacing William Lansdale. Tourtelot, 58, is a partner in the Century City law firm of Tourtelot and Butler. . . . River Special, who was injured early in the year and skipped the Triple Crown, worked a half-mile in 48 4/5 Friday morning at Santa Anita while preparing for his comeback. Trainer Bob Hess Jr. said the 3-year-old probably will return during the Hollywood Park meeting, which will begin Nov. 17. . . . With Chris McCarron riding Dehere, Mike Smith has gained the mount on Norfolk Stakes winner Shepherd’s Field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. . . . Jockey David Flores will begin a five-day suspension Sunday after being disqualified aboard Kolbe’s Gold in the first race Wednesday.