HORSE RACING : The ‘North Goes East to Face 11 at Oaklawn

Disqualified in the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start, The Wicked North will have 11 opponents when he runs in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap today at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

The 1 1/8-mile race is one of three out-of-town events, along with the Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland and the California Derby from Golden Gate Fields, that Santa Anita will simulcast today. Post time will be 15 minutes earlier than usual, at 12:15 p.m.

Winner of the San Antonio Handicap before the controversial decision in the Big ‘Cap, The Wicked North worked three furlongs in 36 4/5 at Oaklawn Park and will break from Post 5. Kent Desormeaux will ride the 5-year-old Far North horse.

Devil His Due, the beaten favorite in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in his most recent start, is the 120-pound highweight in the race. Other entrants include Far Out Wadleigh, the entry of Glowing Crown and Kissin Kris, Myrakalu, Wallenda, Eequalsmcsquared, Valley Crossing, Pistols And Roses, Hill Pass and Brother Brown.

In the California Derby, Bai Brun is the probable favorite on the strength of two easy victories over the track since arriving from Florida. Trained by Brent Sumja, the White Mischief colt won an allowance race by four lengths and the Gold Rush by three. Ron Warren will again ride.

Southern California will have four representatives in the 1 1/8-mile Derby. Silver Music, who won the Baldwin Stakes on the turf as a 23-1 longshot, will be ridden by Russell Baze; Bradbury Stakes winner Dramatic Gold will be handled by Chris McCarron; College Town will be ridden by Martin Pedroza and Gracious Ghost, who has tailed off in his last two starts after finishing second in the Santa Catalina and San Vicente Breeders’ Cup, will be handled by Gary Boulanger.

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William C. Winfrey, 77, Hall of Fame trainer of Native Dancer and Buckpasser, has died in Lake Forest of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Native Dancer’s only loss in 22 career starts came by a head to Dark Star in the 1953 Kentucky Derby.

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Claybank, ridden by Goncalino Almeida, took the lead with about a sixteenth of a mile to go and won Friday’s $40,000 feature race at Santa Anita by 1 1/4 lengths over favored Regal Rowdy. Claybank ran 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:48 1/5 and paid $39.40, $8.20 and $4.