Horse Racing : OAK TREE : Western Approach Won’t Pull Over, Easily Wins the Morvich

Coming down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course Saturday, Kent Desormeaux half expected a patrol car to pull up alongside him.

“I was afraid I was going to get a ticket for going too fast,” Desormeaux said after Western Approach’s eight-length victory in the $80,775 Morvich Handicap.

Remaining unbeaten in three tries on the unique layout, the 4-year-old Gone West filly and 8-5 favorite opened up five lengths after a 21 3/5 opening quarter-mile, then improved her position from there. She completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12, two-fifths off the course record set by Bel’s Starlet on Oct. 7, 1992.

Yousefia, the other 4-year-old filly in the field of six, finished second, a head in front of Exemplary Leader. Superstrike, the 5-2 second choice making his first start on turf, finished last.

“When I got back (after the race), I said to (trainer) Bobby (Frankel), ‘You’ve got a little pull around here. See if you can get them to write a $1-million race going down the hill.’ She’s truly fast. Wow.”

After her quick opening quarter, Western Approach sped up to a 42 4/5 half-mile and completed the six furlongs in 1:05 4/5 en route to her final time.

“She’s just a real fast filly,” Frankel said. “To be honest with you, she hasn’t shown the same kind of speed as she had in the past. I trained her for more speed for this race.

“I may try her on the dirt again, but I think the next race for her will be the Hollywood Turf Express (at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 20).”

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Party Cited, whose Breeders’ Cup Distaff status was in doubt after she kicked her right hind leg in her stall Friday morning, apparently will run in the $1-million race.

“She trained perfectly this morning,” said Terry Mangrum, assistant to trainer Rodney Rash. “She jogged two miles and didn’t take a bad step. She couldn’t have traveled any better.

“We’ll put a good, strong gallop into her the next couple of days and if she’s OK, we’ll stay with our game plan. If there’s any indication she’s not right, Rodney and (owner Gary Tanaka) would not run. But right now it looks like we dodged a bullet.”

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The California Horse Racing Board voted unanimously to appoint Roy Wood to the executive secretary position at its monthly meeting on Friday.

Wood, who currently serves as director of racing for the Texas Racing Commission, takes over a post that has been vacant since Dennis Hutcheson was fired in February. Before he takes over, Wood will have to undergo a security background check and relocate to California.

Roy Minami, who has filled as executive secretary since Hutcheson was fired, will return to his position as assistant executive secretary.

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Adorydar, a consistent daughter of Alydar, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $75,000 Harold C. Ramser Handicap at one mile on the turf today at Santa Anita.

Worse than third only once in nine races, Adorydar will be making her first start since winning the Torrey Pines Stakes on Sept. 15 at Del Mar. Chris McCarron will ride for trainer Ron McAnally.

Icy Warning, ninth in a Meadowlands stake on Sept. 6, is the 3-1 second choice. She has won half of her eight starts on turf. Gary Stevens has the mount for trainer Mark Hennig.

Other entrants include Mamselle Bebette, coming off an easy victory down the hill; Zoonaqua, Pinta, who will be making her first U.S. start for Frankel; Ask Anita, Dancewithcougars and Deputy’s Ex.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Bobby Frankel said all three of his Breeders’ Cup Classic hopefuls--Bertrando, Missionary Ridge and Marquetry--will work this morning. . . . Astas Foxy Lady won’t start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filles because of a skin infection. . . . Sardula, who will be one of the choices in the Juvenile Fillies, worked five furlongs under Eddie Delahoussaye in 58 seconds Saturday morning. Her stablemate, Rhapsodic, who will also run in the race, worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and Ramblin Guy, who will go in the Juvenile, went the distance in 1:00 2/5. . . . Magical Maiden, a Distaff participant, worked a mile in 1:39 2/5. . . . Santa Anita will hold racing on Nov. 15 to replace the program that was canceled last Thursday because of smoke from the canyon fires near the track. . . . The CHRB approved Hollywood Park’s request to hold a twilight program (4 p.m. start) on the Friday (Nov. 26) after Thanksgiving. There will be 13 or 14 races. . . . Davy Be Good and Toakeeni were scratched from the Morvich.