SANTA ANITA : Lukas Hopes for New Ending to Familiar-Looking Scenario

For the second consecutive year, Wayne Lukas had to settle for second in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

The trainer hopes this isn’t a precursor for the Kentucky Derby. After being beaten by Personal Hope in Arcadia last year, Union City finished 15th at Churchill Downs.

Not only did Tabasco Cat finish second, he lost by the same margin as Union City did here--three-quarters of a length.

In a race that went according to form, Brocco and Tabasco Cat hooked up entering the stretch after overtaking Fly’n J. Bryan, then raced as a team before Brocco took over in the final yards.

It was Tabasco Cat’s first loss of 1994, and the 3-year-old Storm Cat colt is winless in two tries against Brocco. But he was more competitive than during their initial meeting. In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last Nov. 6, Tabasco Cat was beaten 6 1/2 lengths.

Lukas, whose last Santa Anita Derby victory came the same year--1988--that he won his lone Kentucky Derby with Winning Colors, was happy with his colt’s effort.

“He got beat by a good horse,” Lukas said. “I’d like to try him again the first Saturday in May, but I’m pleased with our horse’s effort.

“I thought he ran very well off the long layoff (Tabasco Cat’s last race was March 6).”

Actually, Strodes Creek, who finished third, and Numerous, who was fourth, had been away longer.

“I wouldn’t change a thing we did,” he said. “I feel good about it. Pat (Day) said he ran a super race. If we can carry this another 30 days, I’ll be happy.”

Day, who has ridden Tabasco Cat in three of his five victories, didn’t think he lost a thing in defeat.

“I’m pleased with his effort,” Day said. “He was just second best on this particular afternoon. It had been (34 days) since he’d run and it’s the hardest race he’s had this year.

“I think he needed this one, and he’ll come back for the next one and be tighter.

“When a horse runs as hard as he did and tries as hard as he did, you can’t fault him. When (Brocco) came to him, he dug in and tried real hard.”

Charlie Whittingham wouldn’t mind if Strodes Creek followed the same pattern Ferdinand did in 1986. He finished third behind Snow Chief and Icy Groom in the Santa Anita Derby, then went to Churchill Downs and won at nearly 18-1, giving Whittingham his first Kentucky Derby and jockey Bill Shoemaker his fourth and last. Whittingham’s other starter Saturday, Numerous, finished fourth, five lengths behind Strodes Creek.

Making only his fourth lifetime start, Strodes Creek was beaten by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday in his initial try with blinkers.

“I had to get after him kind of early again, but I thought he was the winner on the turn,” Corey Black said. “He kind of lost his momentum when we straightened for home.

“He’s still very inexperienced. The only difference I saw with the blinkers was that his early speed was better without having (to) ride him. Overall, I was happy with his race. I think he earned himself a trip (to the Kentucky Derby) today.”

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Mamselle Bebette, a 4-year-old Copelan filly owned by John Forsythe’s Big Train Farm, is now the only four-time stakes winner of the meeting.

She defeated Cool Air and three others in the $87,225 Las Cienegas Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Her other victories came in the La Brea, Monrovia and Las Flores Breeders’ Cup.

With Chris McCarron taking over for the injured Corey Nakatani, the 5-2 second choice sprinted to the lead at the beginning, saw favored Cool Air get within a head a furlong from the finish, then asserted her superiority in the final yards. She completed the almost 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:13.

Losing for the first time in four California races, Cool Air, the 13-10 choice, finished two lengths ahead of Bel’s Starlet, who bumped the rail for no apparent reason in midstretch. Best Dress finished fourth and Miss L Attack was last.

In the third stakes of the day, the $106,000 Santa Paula Stakes, Sardula overcame a stumble at the start and rolled to an 8 1/2-length victory in her 3-year-old debut.

Away since capturing the Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 18, the Storm Cat filly recovered quickly after stumbling to take the lead, fought off a challenge from 3-1 second choice Serena’s World, then drew away to win in 1:15 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

“She’s such a superior animal that she recovered quickly (from the stumble) and got the job done,” trainer Brian Mayberry said. “We’ve been planning on the Kentucky Oaks (May 6) all along, and if everything’s all right, that’s where we’ll go.”

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Catching another field lacking speed, Possibly Perfect is the 8-5 favorite for the $212,800 Santa Barbara Handicap today at Santa Anita.

Able to get away with extremely slow fractions while winning the Yellow Ribbon as a 16-1 longshot last November and as the 2-1 second choice in the Santa Ana on March 19, the 4-year-old Northern Baby filly should be cruising on the lead again today.

Trained by Bobby Frankel and owned by Blue Vista Inc., Possibly Perfect has won five of eight starts since coming to the United States early last year. A victory in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara would be her third Grade I. Kent Desormeaux will again ride.

Hero’s Love, who closed well to finish second in the Santa Ana, is the 2-1 second choice.