SANTA ANITA : Southern Truce Ends Her Slump

With her trainer, Roger Stein, unable to make it to Santa Anita because of earthquake damage to his Hidden Hills home, Southern Truce ended a nine-race losing streak Monday by winning the $160,600 Santa Monica Handicap by a half-length.

Rick Stein, the trainer’s brother, saddled Southern Truce for her 17th victory in 39 starts, including six in nine tries at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old mare, claimed by Roger Stein three years ago for $16,000, earned $93,100 Monday, increasing her purses to almost $750,000.

Southern Truce, ridden by Gary Stevens, won for the first time since March. She was sixth after a half-mile, six lengths behind Mamselle Bebette, who set a rapid 44 1/5 pace.

Southern Truce was still sixth at the top of the stretch, but Mamselle Bebette tired and Stevens’ horse was clear of traffic and outfinished Arches Of Gold from the outside.

“I was five minutes from the track when they ran the race,” Stein said by phone. “There’s not one thing in my house that wasn’t bounced around by the earthquake, so this finishes just one of those unbelievable days. I really didn’t think my mare was going to win this race, but she’s just such a terrific tryer.”

Stein estimated that about $700,000 of Southern Truce’s earnings have come since he claimed her for Peggy Johnson. Southern Truce was close to being sold by Johnson on two occasions, most recently an apparent $250,000 offer that didn’t materialize last week.

Southern Truce paid $25, running seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5. Golden Arches finished two lengths ahead of Mamselle Bebette, who went off co-favored with Desert Stormer.

Horse Racing Notes

Santa Anita officials made the decision to race about 9:30 a.m. Monday after an inspection showed that track didn’t sustain any structural damage. . . . There were several aftershocks during the card. . . . The on-track holiday crowd of 19,001 was about 11,000 less than what the track expected before the earthquake. . . . At Hollywood Park, morning workouts were canceled because the earthquake blew glass out of the press box on to the track. . . . Because of the earthquake, Santa Anita-based Paul Atkinson couldn’t get a flight to San Francisco to ride Lindzell, who won the $100,000 Bay Meadows Oaks at 7-1 with substitute jockey Gary Boulanger.