SANTA ANITA : Hollywood Wildcat Returns Against Small La Canada Field

Hollywood Wildcat hasn’t lost a race since arriving in California last summer.

Owners Irving and Marjorie Cowan’s homebred has won five consecutive stakes victories for trainer Neil Drysdale, the biggest when she beat Paseana by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last Nov. 6.

The daughter of Kris S. hasn’t run since then and might be ripe for an upset in the $211,500 La Canada Stakes today at Santa Anita.

Drysdale admittedly hasn’t trained her rigorously, and there are more important races in 1994 for last year’s Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top 3-year-old filly.

The filly who appeared to have the best chance of surprising 4-5 favorite Hollywood Wildcat in the 1 1/8-mile race probably won’t start.

Sensational Eyes, the 3-1 second choice, has been bothered by an abscess in her foot, and trainer Gary Jones said he will decide this morning whether she will run in the Grade II event.

“I’m not real optimistic,” Jones said. “There’s really nothing you can do to protect it and it is still (tender). If she’s not perfect, she won’t run, and I’m not sure if she’d be ready for (the Santa Maria Handicap next Saturday)”

A California-bred daughter of Roman Majesty, Sensational Eyes popped the abscess after finishing second to longshot Supah Gem in the El Encino Stakes three weeks ago. After opening up two lengths into the stretch, Sensational Eyes was overtaken and beaten by a length. Jones says the problem cost her the victory.

Only three other horses were entered in the La Canada--Stalcreek, Golden Klair and Alyshena.

Third in the El Encino, Stalcreek has proven she can handle an off track. The Stalwart filly won an allowance race by 3 1/2 lengths on a muddy surface at Santa Anita on Jan. 9, 1993.

Golden Klair finished sixth in the El Encino after an 11-1 upset of the now-retired Pacific Squall in the Silver Belles, but the anticipated moderate pace doesn’t figure to help her.

Alyshena was well beaten in the El Encino and deserves to be the longest shot in the field. However, her trainer, Jack Van Berg, has won the La Canada two of the last three years with longshots. Fit to Scout scored at 9-1 in 1991, and Alysbelle was 15-1 when she defeated Pacific Squall last year.

*

There will probably be a shorter price on the program today than Hollywood Wildcat.

Trishyde could be 1-5 in the $75,000 Las Potrancas Handicap, which is scheduled at 1 1/4 miles on the turf two races before the La Canada.

Inclement weather could cause the Las Potrancas to be switched to the main track, but trainer George Vogel said Trishyde will go no matter the surface. All 13 of her races have been on the grass.

“Our plans are to run regardless,” he said. “We’ve anticipated running on the main track anyway (at some point). She’s doing as well as a horse can do right now.”

A 5-year-old Nureyev mare, Trishyde won by 4 1/2 lengths over four allowance rivals on Dec. 30 in her first race in nearly nine months after suffering a stress fracture to a cannon bone. She will race five opponents today.

*

Twelve 4-year-olds were entered Friday morning for the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Sunday.

Pleasant Tango, third in the San Fernando Stakes last month, is the probable favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Grade I stake. He drew post No. 2, and Eddie Delahoussaye will ride.

Zignew, upset winner of the San Fernando, and Nonproductiveasset, who finished second, are back for the Strub, along with also-rans Stuka, Diazo, Goldigger’s Dream and Bat Eclat.

The newcomers to the field are Kissin Kris, Dinand, Tinners Way, Fight for Love and Justtofit.

With no more rain expected until Sunday night, the track could be fast for the Strub, and Jones, who trains Stuka, says his colt could be a factor.

Owned by Allen Paulson, who also has Diazo, Stuka finished sixth in the San Fernando in a better-than-it-looked effort. Seemingly unwilling to run inside of horses, the son of Jade Hunter dropped back to 10th at one point, then finished well once jockey Chris Antley got him to the outside.

“He’s trained well since (the San Fernando), and I don’t think you’ve seen the best of him,” Jones said. “But I don’t know if he’ll like the (mud) or not, if it comes up that way.

“I think it’s a wide-open race. I think any one of five horses could win it. We didn’t see the real Diazo the other day, and Kissin Kris is a very nice horse.”

*

Dehere, who missed making his first start of the year in the Hutcheson Stakes last Sunday because of a mild case of colic, will run in the first race at Gulfstream Park today.

Idle since he was blitzed by Brocco in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Dehere will have four opponents in the 1 1/16 mile allowance race. Mike Smith will ride the Eclipse Award winner.