SANTA ANITA : Bien Bien Choice to Handle Field in San Marcos

In his first start since finishing second to Kotashaan in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Bien Bien is the 3-5 morning-line favorite in the $133,100 San Marcos Handicap at Santa Anita today.

Owned by John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, the 5-year-old Manila horse doesn’t have much to beat in the 1 1/4-mile race and should begin 1994 with his sixth victory in his 14th start on turf.

Bien Bien might not remain on his favorite surface for long, however. His next start might in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 5.

The main track hasn’t been kind to the $100,000 yearling purchase. Bien Bien hasn’t run on dirt since finishing last in the Super Derby on Sept. 27, 1992, ending a sequence of three consecutive races on dirt.

In the other two races, he was last in the Travers at Saratoga after stumbling badly at the start and won a less-than-memorable Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. Behind him that day were the ill-fated Treekster, the maiden Sevengreenpairs, Crivasik and Natural Nine, who broke down in the race and had to be destroyed.

But Bien Bien has always trained well on dirt, and trainer Paco Gonzalez says that he can handle the surface.

“We’re still thinking about it,” Toffan said of the Big ‘Cap. “It depends on how he does in (the San Marcos). It would be up to Paco, and he still thinks he’s a good dirt horse. He’s handled the dirt (in California) . . . it’s the eastern tracks he had trouble with.

“There’s no great big devious scheme. It’s a million-dollar race, and Paco thinks he has a pretty good shot. He did win the Swaps and it wouldn’t hurt to try him one more time (on dirt).”

Of course, the competition would be much stiffer in the Big ‘Cap than it was in the Swaps. Among those likely to participate are Slew Of Damascus, Best Pal and Pleasant Tango. Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arcangues is a possibility.

“We know he can get the mile and a quarter, and why not take a shot for a million bucks?” Toffan said. “It’s not going to affect his (turf schedule), one way or another. We’ll see how he comes out of this race and go from there. We’ll train him for (the Big ‘Cap) and see how it goes.”

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Explosive Red, the 22-1 upset winner of the Hollywood Derby in his California debut Nov. 20 at Hollywood Park, is the 3-1 second morning-line choice in the San Marcos. Myrakalu is next at 6-1 and the entry of Square Cut and Robber Ramble and Navire and Fanatic Boy round out the field.

Explosive Red was a distant third to Fraise in the Hollywood Turf Cup in his most recent appearance. Gary Stevens will ride for trainer Gary Jones.

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Trainer Brian Mayberry and owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel, who ran 1-2 with Noassemblyrequired and Sophisticatedcielo in the Pasadena Stakes on Jan. 2, will try for the same sweep today in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Breeders’ Cup Stakes.

The entry, which was reduced by the scratch of Madder Than Mad, who also skipped the Pasadena, is 4-5 on the morning line against only three opponents in the seven-furlong race.

Tricky Code, who was fourth in the Hollywood Starlet, is the 7-5 second morning-line choice as she returns to sprinting for Jones. She is unbeaten in two starts around one turn. The other two entrants are Bayou Plans, who was last and beaten by 22 lengths in the Pasadena, and the maiden Fancy ‘N Fabulous.

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Funeral services for jockey Ron Hansen will be held at noon today in Lewiston, Utah.

Hansen, 33, disappeared last Oct. 2 after an automobile accident on the San Mateo bridge and his body was discovered nine days ago not far from the bridge.

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Hollywood Wildcat, the Eclipse Award winner as best 3-year-old filly last year, is among 10 fillies nominated to the $200,000 La Canada Stakes a week from today.

Unbeaten in five starts since coming to California last summer, Hollywood Wildcat worked seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5 a half-hour before the races on Thursday. The La Canada will be Hollywood Wildcat’s first race since she beat Pasaena in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The other nominees for the 1 1/8-mile race are the Jack Van Berg-trained Alyshena and Mamselle Bebette, Capracotta, Golden Klair, Sensational Eyes, Sizzlin’ Sara, Stalcreek, Supah Gem and Wendy’s Daughter.

Horse Racing Notes

Memo, who was supposed to run in Sunday’s Palos Verdes Handicap, suffered a quarter crack in his left hind leg and will be sidelined at least a month. . . . Corby, who hasn’t run since finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby last year, will return in the seventh race today, a $60,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles. Unbeaten in two starts on the Santa Anita main track, including a victory over Personal Hope in the San Felipe Stakes last March, Corby has trained well for his return. . . . Hollywood Futurity winner Valiant Nature worked six furlongs in 1:16 on the turf Friday morning. . . . Jockey Fernando Valenzuela won three times Friday, including twice for trainer Mike Chambers.