OAK TREE : Know Heights Wins Burke Handicap

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. didn’t believe that Know Heights was at his best in the $163,500 Carleton F. Burke Handicap at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Even if the 4-year-old Shirley Heights colt wasn’t on top of his game, he was certainly good enough to defeat six rivals in the 1 1/4-mile turf race.

After setting the pace under Kent Desormeaux, the 11-10 favorite won by 2 1/4 lengths over Fanmore in 2:00 flat.

This was the second victory in three U.S. starts for Know Heights, who will have a tougher challenge in the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 12 against a field that will probably include Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Bien Bien.

“He was a little fresher than I would have liked and I think that’s why Kent just let him go like he did,” Hess said. “I think he’ll be even better next time. I think he’s a cut below the best, but he’s certainly very good. He’ll face some tough horses (in the Turf Cup), no doubt, but he’s undefeated at 1 1/2 miles. If you’re going to try the best, it certainly helps to be able to run the race at your distance.”

Fanmore, who had finished in front of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arcangues in his last start in France on Oct. 2, beat Myrakalu by three-quarters of a length for second. Approach The Bench, the second-longest shot in the field at 14-1, was fourth, a length in front of 3-1 second choice Fast Cure.

*

Miss Turkana, purchased nearly two months ago by David Mowat’s Fawn Leap Farm, won for the first time for her new owner, beating Cox Orange by three-quarters of a length in the $84,400 Louis R. Rowan Handicap.

Ridden by Antonio Castanon, the 8-1 shot tracked the pace of 7-5 favorite Visible Gold for most of the way, caught her in the final furlong and won in 1:34 4/5 for the mile.

The 4-year-old Turkoman filly has now won three of her last four and nine of 26 overall, but she has done most of her winning when she has been able to lead wire-to-wire. Miss Turkana hasn’t been as successful when coming from off the pace.

“We thought Visible Gold would be long gone on the lead, by about two or three lengths,” trainer Gary Jones said, “but (Miss Turkana) went to her quicker than we anticipated. To tell the truth, I thought they both were going to cave in, but this filly’s pretty tenacious. She gives you 110% every time, and knock on wood, she’s the soundest horse I’ve ever trained.”

Wedding Ring, who finished a half-length behind Cox Orange in third, was probably best in the race. She spotted the field several lengths after hesitating at the start.

*

Subtle Trouble, the 2-1 second choice, beat 6-5 favorite Troyalty by a nose to win the $79,650 Sunny Slope Stakes.

Ridden by Alex Solis and trained by Mel Stute, the 2-year-old Native Prospector gelding covered the seven furlongs in 1:22 4/5.