SANTA ANITA : Supah Gem Deal a Combination of Dollase and Sense

Trainer Wally Dollase seems to have an eye for a bargain.

He purchased Journalism for a reported $35,000 last year and the gelding won the first four times he ran for owner Richard Stephen, earned nearly $300,000 in 1993 and was voted the California-bred turf champion by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn.

With the help of veterinarian Bruce Dodson, Dollase bought Supah Gem last summer for Stephen and Martha Perez. Second in two of her first four starts since, the 4-year-old Gold Meridian filly earned back a sizable portion of her $110,000 purchase price at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Never far off the pace while racing on the outside under Corey Nakatani, the 8-1 shot ran down Sensational Eyes in the final sixteenth to win the $109,500 El Encino Stakes by a length in 1:41 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

With the scratch of Mamselle Bebette, the pace in the El Encino was moderate and Supah Gem took full advantage for her first victory since a stakes at Calder in Miami on New Year’s Day, 1993.

“I was thrilled with the way she ran,” Dollase said. “The outside post was the whole secret. She was able to relax out there. When I saw the (47 1/5 half-mile), I figured she would finish well.

“The last time we ran her here she was part of a 45 1/5, and that’s what did her in.” She finished second to Miss Dominique in the Run For The Roses Handicap on Jan. 1.

Sensational Eyes, making her first start since she finished last at 3-5 odds in the Linda Vista Handicap on Nov. 13, had taken the lead around the turn. Stalcreek, the 7-2 third choice, had some traffic trouble and finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Sensational Eyes.

Golden Klair, the 9-5 favorite, finished sixth, beating only Alyshena and Tricky Princess. The beneficiary of a fast pace when she rallied to beat Pacific Squall at 11-1 in the Silver Belles Handicap last month at Hollywood Park, Golden Klair was hindered by the slow pace Saturday.

“I don’t think the moderate pace hurt,” jockey Chris McCarron said. “She never tried to run today. The real Golden Klair didn’t show up today, for whatever reason.”

Dollase said Supah Gem is doubtful for the final race in the La Canada series, the 1 1/8-mile La Canada Stakes. The La Canada is expected to mark the 1994 debut of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Hollywood Wildcat.

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Diazo, who will try to become the first since On The Line in 1988 to win the San Fernando Stakes after winning the Malibu Stakes, is the 5-2 second choice for the 1 1/8-mile race.

Coupled in the betting with Stuka, who is also owned by Allen Paulson, Diazo raced without his usual blinkers for the seven-furlong Malibu. He rallied along the inside and outfinished Concept Win by a half-length. Laffit Pincay will again ride for trainer Bill Shoemaker.

Pleasant Tango, who hasn’t run since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a nose in front of Diazo, is the 2-1 favorite in the field of 12. A developing son of Pleasant Colony, Pleasant Tango will be ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, who is back after serving a five-day suspension.

Favorites have won the San Fernando, the middle leg of the Strub Series, only four times in the last 16 years and there are plenty of longshots in the field today. Half of the dozen entrants are 12-1 or higher on the morning line.

One of those is Nancys French Fry, who has developed nicely since being claimed for $20,000 by trainer Vladimir Cerin for owner Rick Fritts on Oct. 7.

In four races since, the French Legionaire gelding has two victories and a third. However, he will be facing much tougher in the San Fernando.

“I’m not expecting a miracle, but we can always hope,” Cerin said. “He’s very sharp, he’s training very well and he looks good on the track.

“This is the last opportunity to run against only 4-year-olds at this level. It’s not an easy field, but I don’t think (the 4-year-olds) are as good this year as they have been in the past. Diazo won the Malibu, but Malibu winners seldom win the San Fernando and there are some horses who were good as 2- and 3-year-olds who aren’t as good now.

“We’re in the position where we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. When we claimed him, he looks like he could be competitive at the level at which he was claimed, but he seems to have worked out a little bit better than that. He just seemed to develop when I got him. He’s gained weight and looks stronger.”

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Meafara, who would have been heavily favored in the Grade I Santa Monica Handicap on Monday, won’t race because of a pulled muscle in her side.

“She worked Wednesday and after she cooled out, she seemed to tie up,” trainer Rafael Becerra said. “It’s nothing serious, but she’ll have to miss (the Santa Monica).”

In her absence, Arches Of Gold is the 119-pound highweight in a field of 10. Others entered Saturday morning include Senate Appointee, She’s Tops, Another Natalie, Nannerl, Mamselle Bebette, Mama Simba, Southern Truce, Cargo and Desert Stormer.

Horse Racing Notes

Itsallgreektome, who hasn’t run since November of 1992, will make his first start for trainer Bob Hess Jr. in Monday’s third race. Eddie Delahoussaye will ride the oft-injured gelding in a $55,000 allowance at one mile on the turf.