SANTA ANITA : Weekend Is a Hit for Gordy

After losing the first eight times he started in the United States, Alex The Great suddenly has discovered how to win.

Owned by Motown founder Berry Gordy, the 5-year-old Bairn horse won for the second time in his last four races, beating 14-1 shot Vegieman by 2 1/2 lengths Sunday in the $85,575 Miramontes Handicap at Santa Anita.

In earning his first U.S. stakes victory in the restricted Miramontes, British-bred Alex The Great, who paid $21.40, completed a successful weekend for Gordy and trainer Rodney Rash. The day before, Powis Castle ran second in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park and likely earned himself a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Chris Antley, Alex The Great was well off the pace early, began his rally wide on the turn, then drew away in the final furlong to win in 1:48 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

“This horse has ability, there’s never been any question about that,” said Rash. “Two races back, he was only beaten a length by Semillon.” Actually, the margin was 2 1/4 lengths in the San Marino Handicap and Alex The Great was also a nose behind Memento Mori, who finished seventh Sunday.

“He’s been a nervous horse and he always gets hot and washy like he did today . . . I’d almost worry if he didn’t get that way. But he’d been training well and I really did expect him to run well today. In fact, it’s hard to believe he went off at 9-1.”

Making his first start on turf, Vegieman came from last to finish second, a nose in front of 12-1 shot Kingdom Of Spain. River Boyne, the 11-10 favorite, finished 10th in the field of 11.

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Six days before the Santa Anita Derby, it looks as if the race will have nine starters.

The most attractive of the races leading up to the Kentucky Derby will bring back the first three finishers in last month’s San Felipe Stakes, three other stakes winners, two colts trained by Charlie Whittingham and Pollock’s Luck, who will probably be the longest shot in the field.

Soul Of The Matter, who upset Brocco and Valiant Nature in the San Felipe, will have his final work for the 1 1/8-mile Derby either Wednesday or Thursday, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Valiant Nature, third in the aforementioned race in his first start of 1994, worked Sunday, going six furlongs in 1:13 3/5.

In addition to Brocco and Pollock’s Luck, the other probable starters are the Whittingham pair of Strodes Creek and Numerous, San Rafael winner Tabasco Cat, Robannier, who won a stakes race earlier this year at Bay Meadows, and likely pacesetter Fly’n J. Bryan, who is scheduled to work five furlongs this morning at Hollywood Park.