SANTA ANITA : Cross, McCarron Happy to Be Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Both trainer Richard Cross and jockey Chris McCarron believed Earl Of Barking was beaten at the wire by Fanmore in the $110,300 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Cross told owner Henry Pabst not to come down to the track. “It’s a pain in the neck to get back up there,” he said.

McCarron’s opinion was verified by Fanmore’s rider, Kent Desormeaux. “Seventy yards past the wire, I said to (Desormeaux), ‘You got me, didn’t you?’ He said, ‘Yep.’ ”

The photo finish camera proved Cross, McCarron and Desormeaux wrong. In his first appearance at Santa Anita, Earl Of Barking won by a nose in 1:48 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Making his first start as a 4-year-old, the 7-2 third choice won for the sixth time in 15 starts.

“The first time I thought he was beaten, but when I watched the replay, I wasn’t sure,” Cross said. “I don’t know where we’ll run him next. I’m just going to enjoy this victory for now.”

Fanmore, who gained the lead in midstretch, finished five lengths ahead of 9-5 favorite Navarone, who was making his second start after being away for over 13 months.

“I thought I had won it,” Desormeaux said. “Chris even looked over and said, ‘You came back, didn’t you.’ I told him I thought so. My horse ran a super race. He was keen to go on, very anxious. He ran well all the way around.”

Second in his comeback race on Dec. 5 at Hollywood Park, Navarone trailed early, began to surge around the turn, but couldn’t gain on the first two in the final furlong.

“He couldn’t handle the dirt,” jockey Gary Stevens said of the turf course, which has drawn criticism.

D’Arros finished fourth, two lengths ahead of Eastern Memories, then came Bossanova, Ranger and Square Cut.

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Brian Mayberry, who has trained the winner of the Pasadena Stakes two of the last three years, will be favored to win the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies again today.

Successful with Set Them Free last year and Ifyoucouldseemenow in 1991, Mayberry has a three-horse entry headed by recent maiden winner Madder Than Mad.

Beaten a neck by Lakeway in her debut, Madder Than Mad won impressively Dec. 5 at Hollywood Park. Tulgey Wood, who finished a distant third in that race, came back to win on Wednesday. Alex Solis will ride the Carr De Naskra filly, who will race coupled with Sophisticatedcielo and Noassemblyrequired. All three are owned by Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel.

The rest of the entrants include Concorde’s Message, Jacodra’s Devil, Malibu Light, Becky’s Appeal, Bayou Plans and Dezibelle’s Star.

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Gilded Time, the beaten favorite in the Malibu Stakes a week ago today, has been retired and will leave for Kentucky on Monday to begin a stud career.

The Eclipse Award winner in 1992 as the nation’s top 2-year-old, Gilded Time has had problems with his left front leg, according to trainer Darrell Vienna.

After winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31, 1992, the son of Timeless Moment was off until he finished third behind Cardmania and Meafara in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November.

Owned by David Milch and Jack and Mark Silverman, Gilded Time will stand at The Vinery. He finished his career with four victories in six starts and earnings of $975,980.

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Terry Lipham, the agent for jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, has been released from the Sherman Oaks Burn Center.

A former rider, Lipham was accidentally burned while being treated for a skin condition. “There are still parts of my body with second-degree burns,” Lipham said, “and they still don’t know when it will heal. Only time will tell.”

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Miss Dominique, a 16-1 shot, won the first stakes race of the new year at Santa Anita, beating nine rivals by nearly two lengths in the $62,200 Run For The Roses Handicap.

With Corey Black riding for the absent Pat Valenzuela, the 5-year-old Private Account mare rallied from off the pace to win in 1:34 2/5 for the mile.

Supah Gem, a 10-1 shot, finished second, a head in front of 2-1 favorite Cargo. Senate Appointee, the 2-1 second choice, finished seventh.

Owned by Allen Paulson and trained by Alex Hassinger, Miss Dominique has won five of 13 and has two victories and two seconds in four starts at Santa Anita.

Horse Racing Notes

A parade of longshots led to a Pick Six carryover of more than $129,000 for today’s program. . . . Flying In The Lane, a 3-year-old Flying Victor filly, was impressive breaking her maiden in her debut, winning in 1:08 under Alex Solis as a 12-1 shot. . . . All jockeys were required to wear flak jackets Saturday under a new California Horse Racing Board regulation. The jackets, which weigh about 1 1/2 pounds, must be CHRB-approved and don’t count in the jockey’s weight. . . . Pat Valenzuela was off of his mounts for a second consecutive day after his wife and baby daughter came home from the hospital. Valenzuela now has four daughters. . . . Chris Antley, Corey Black and Chris McCarron each won twice Saturday.