SANTA ANITA : Trainer Dollase Is Wrong Again--Fortunately

Wally Dollase believed that Nonproductiveasset won the Strub Stakes a week ago.

On Saturday, the trainer believed that Supah Gem had lost the $158,200 Santa Maria Handicap. He was wrong in both cases.

After Nonproductiveasset lost a heartbreaker to Diazo in the Grade I Strub, Dollase saw the picture turn out his way when Supah Gem edged 7-10 favorite Paseana in the Grade I Santa Maria.

This was the second consecutive stakes victory for the 4-year-old Gold Meridian filly, another in what is becoming a long line of bargain buys by Dollase.

Purchased by the trainer for owners Richard Stephen and Martha Perez for $110,000 last year, Supah Gem has earned much more than that in her first three races of the year.

Able to cruise to an easy lead after Sensational Eyes broke poorly, Supah Gem was restrained nicely by Corey Nakatani, then lasted over two-time Eclipse Award winner Paseana and 12-1 Alysbelle, who was another nose back in third. Sensational Eyes was 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth.

“I thought I had lost from where I was,” Dollase said. “Last week, I thought I had won and I made my way down to the winner’s circle, but not this time. I was superstitious.

“I can’t believe we beat (Paseana). That’s unreal.”

This was the second consecutive year Paseana lost the Santa Maria to a front-running filly. It was easier for trainer Ron McAnally to swallow in 1993 because he also trained the winner, Race The Wild Wind.

It was Paseana’s first race since she lost to Hollywood Wildcat, also by a nose, in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 6.

“The race will do her good,” McAnally said. “If things are all right, the Santa Margarita (on March 6) will be next.”

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The $250,000 San Antonio Handicap, the final prep for the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap in three weeks, is perhaps the most wide-open stake of the meeting.

Best Pal, who was second in the San Pasqual Handicap last month in his first start as a 6-year-old, is the 7-2 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race, but some sort of case can be made for the other nine participants.

The hottest member of the field is 9-2 second choice Slew Of Damascus. The 6-year-old gelding has four consecutive stakes victories for trainer Craig Roberts. Three of those came at Bay Meadows, but he also won the Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park on Dec. 4.

In his most recent victory at Bay Meadows, the William P. Kyne Handicap on Jan. 8, Slew Of Damascus beat Hill Pass, who returned to win the San Pasqual at 15-1 and is entered in today’s stake. With Nakatani committed to Region, Pat Valenzuela will ride Slew Of Damascus for the first time.

“I’d have like to have a done little more with him for this race,” Roberts said, “but the weather up north prevented it. But he’s all right.”

Have Fun is also on a roll, having won his last two races for trainer Bobby Frankel after enduring a long losing streak. Treated with Lasix before his Dec. 30 race, he won by two lengths on turf, then won by three over Slerp on Jan. 29 on the main track. Pat Day will come in to ride the Topsider horse, who is 6-1 on the morning line, the same as Region and Hill Pass.

The other entrants include The Wicked North, the 5-1 third morning-line choice who was second to Cardmania in the seven-furlong San Carlos in his last start; Lottery Winner, Star Recruit, Fast Cure and Ibero.

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Fly’n J. Bryan is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in today’s $100,000 San Vicente Breeders’ Cup Stakes at seven furlongs.

A 4 1/2-length winner over maidens in his debut in 1:08 2/5 for the six furlongs, Fly’n J. Bryan has trained well since the race and will have only five opponents in the Grade III event.

Gracious Ghost, the runner-up to Wekiva Springs in the Santa Catalina, is the 7-2 second choice. Ramblin Guy, winless since the Hollywood Juvenile Championship last July 26, is the co-third choice at 5-1 with Subtle Trouble, who will make his first start for owner Terry Wells and trainer Robert Bartenetti after being purchased for $97,000 at a dispersal sale. The other entrants are Cois Na Tine, making his American debut after going unbeaten in four starts in Ireland, and recent maiden winner College Town.

Horse Racing Notes

Bien Bien worked seven furlongs in 1:24 3/5 Saturday morning and probably will make his next start in the $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 21, rather than the Santa Anita Handicap. . . . Zignew, who suffered a broken cannon bone in the Strub Stakes last Sunday, is holding his own, according to trainer Dan Smithwick. “So far, so good,” said Smithwick. “There’s no laminitis in the other (right) foot, and he’s getting up and lying down. He’s as good as could be expected right now.” Seven screws were inserted in Zignew’s left foreleg Monday. . . . Santa Anita’s post time will remain at 12:30 p.m. for the rest of the meeting, instead of moving to 1 as it has in the past. In making the announcement, the track cited several factors, particularly requests from fans and horsemen. . . . Jockey Corey Nakatani won three times Saturday.