SANTA ANITA : Cardmania Out of San Antonio With Broken Leg

Not long after Cardmania was entered in Sunday’s San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita, it was determined that the 8-year-old gelding had a fractured cannon bone in his left hind leg and will have to be sidelined for a minimum of six months.

The injury was discovered after Cardmania, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top sprinter last year on the strength of his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, galloped Friday morning at Hollywood Park.

Trainer Derek Meredith was unsure about how the break occurred. “I still can’t believe it,” he said. “He galloped and then he walked back to the barn well. In fact, I went ahead and entered him in (the San Antonio).”

Meredith said he noticed Cardmania, who won his first start of the year in the San Carlos Handicap last month, limping while the son of Cox’s Ridge was cooling out. X-rays revealed the fracture. The cannon bone is the largest bone between the knee and the ankle.

Additional X-rays have been scheduled, and Cardmania probably will undergo surgery.

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Ron McAnally isn’t conceding anything regarding Paseana’s return in the $158,200 Santa Maria Handicap today at Santa Anita. The trainer believes Paseana, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, is ready for success in her first race since losing by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last Nov. 6.

“She’s doing very well,” McAnally said. “She should be fit enough. We’ve worked her pretty hard the last three or four works. She’s cranked up about as tight as I can get her. She blew out really well (running a half-mile in 46 4/5) on Thursday.”

Paseana, who will carry 124 pounds and concede her six rivals 8-10 pounds in the 1 1/16 mile Santa Maria, is the 6-5 favorite in her first race as a 7-year-old. Chris McCarron will ride her again, and Paseana has never been worse than second in seven starts at Santa Anita.

Still, considering her advancing age and the fact that she was upset in this race a year ago by Race the Wild Wind, today would seem to be the day she might be beaten.

“I think she’s ready,” McAnally said. “We’ve been kind of planning on this race. I can’t see much difference in her from last year or the year before. She’s a pro.”

Sensational Eyes is the 5-2 second choice. An abscess in her left hind foot caused her to miss the La Canada, but she has bounced back and worked six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 last Sunday.

Kent Desormeaux will be making his first ride on Sensational Eyes, who figures to take the lead. Desormeaux rode Race the Wild Wind when she defeated Paseana in last year’s Santa Maria.

“All (the foot) needed was a little rest,” trainer Gary Jones said. “It saved us five pounds.” Sensational Eyes, who has won three of her six starts, had been scheduled to carry 119 pounds in the La Canada.

Supah Gem, who beat Sensational Eyes in the El Encino last month, is the 4-1 third choice, and the other Santa Maria entrants are Senate Appointee, Market Booster, Party Cited and Alysbelle.

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Fly’n J. Bryan, one of the most impressive maiden winners of the meeting in his debut on Jan. 22, will step right into the San Vicente Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Sunday.

Owned by Joseph Fenley and trained by Doug Peterson, the 3-year-old Ogygian colt quickly opened up on his field, which included the highly regarded Laabity, through a 21 2/5 first quarter, then went on to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:08 2/5.

Only five others were entered Friday morning in the seven-furlong San Vicente, and Fly’n J. Bryan is the likely favorite. He worked five furlongs in 1:00 last Sunday, an exercise that drew raves. It was termed breezing by the clockers.

“It was tremendous,” Peterson said. “He came home (the last three furlongs) in 34 4/5 and went the last eighth in 11 3/5, and he did it under a hold.”

Fly’n J. Bryan trained exceptionally well last spring at Hollywood Park for trainer Brian Mayberry and was scheduled to make his debut last July 3, but was scratched when he wrenched an ankle.

Sent to a farm in Rancho Santa Fe to recover, the $110,000 purchase was out for 90 days before being turned over to Peterson by Fenley on the recommendation of Tom Cavanagh, for whom Peterson also trains.

“I greatly appreciate what Mr. Cavanagh did,” Peterson said. “From Day One, this horse has lived up to everything everybody has said about him. Only time will tell (how good he can be), but obviously, there’s something different about him than your average horse. He has a great attitude.”