THOROUGHBRED RACING : Horse Has a Cloudy Disposition

Where Bien Bien goes, rain follows.

Every time the 5-year-old Manila horse is entered in a turf race, bad weather seems to materialize.

John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery’s horse, who prefers his grass firm, didn’t run in the Hollywood Turf Cup last Dec. 12 after rain left the turf course yielding.

The skies opened again before the San Luis Obispo last month, and although Bien Bien ran as the heavy favorite, he was beaten by Fanmore.

Readied for the San Luis Rey after his second-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, Bien Bien might not run in the Grade I race Sunday because of rain Thursday and more was being forecast.

“We’d like to run because (the San Luis Rey) is weight for age,” trainer Paco Gonzalez said. “But if the turf course is very soft, he won’t run. If it’s like it was in the San Luis Obispo, he’ll probably run.”

Second in four of his last five starts on the Santa Anita turf course, Bien Bien will be favored again if he is a participant Sunday and he won’t have to concede any weight.

Carrying eight pounds less than Bien Bien when he defeated him last month, Fanmore and the four other males--Bien Bien, Grand Flotilla, Navire and Quick Ransom--entered Friday were assigned 124 pounds. The mare Capracotta was assigned 119.

Fourth in the San Luis Obispo in his American debut, Grand Flotilla could have been closer with a more patient ride. Seventh after a half-mile, the 7-year-old roan took off when he saw daylight and moved up to join pacesetter Fanmore down the backstretch. Grand Flotilla remained second until he was past the eighth pole, then faded and wound up 5 1/2 lengths back. Eddie Delahoussaye replaces Corey Black for the San Luis Rey.

“He fits just as well as any horse in there,” trainer Jenine Sahadi said. “He’s doing very well. He worked a good three-quarters in 1:14 and change (Tuesday). He’s just a nice, old professional horse. Nothing bothers him.”

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The California Horse Racing Board has begun a process that will allow bettors to make an alternate selection in the Pick Six and Place Pick Nine in the case of a scratch.

Currently, the race favorite is automatically substituted for any scratched horse. With the change, bettors will still have that option or will be able to designate the horse they want substituted. If the alternate is also scratched, the favorite will be substituted.

The change was requested by Hollywood Park last year and it is possible that the alternate-selection option will be in place for that track’s fall meeting, which will begin in November.