DEL MAR : Big-Money Races at Arlington Draw Southern Californians

Rodney Rash cannot turn a corner on Arlington International’s backstretch without running into a familiar face. In some cases, it might even be a human being.

“Charlie’s here and Mike Mitchell and Jenine and myself,” Rash said. “And I know a few others are on the way.”

Like Rash, Charlie Whittingham, Mitchell and Jenine Sahadi are Southern California trainers with horses entered in Arlington’s International Festival of Racing. Bobby Frankel has an entry as well. Pat Valenzuela, Chris Antley, Gary Stevens, Alex Solis, Kent Desormeaux and Eddie Delahoussaye will all be riding.

Rash, of course, did not go to Arlington Heights, Ill., for the camaraderie. When his horses hit Arlington, it was more like a cavalry charge than an invasion.

He has four horses entered in the three big-money races scheduled for the weekend--Alex The Great and Blues Traveller in the Arlington Million, User Friendly in the $500,000 Beverly D and Saltgrass in the $400,000 Secretariat.

However, getting four thoroughbreds from Del Mar to suburban Chicago is not quite like packing up the kiddies and taking them to Disney World, especially when it comes to cost.

Though his horses may be frequent fliers, they are not members of the club. The cost for shipping the four horses will run between $25,000 and $30,000.

“Considering what we’re running for,” Rash said, “you’re talking peanuts.”

The main expense is air fare, plus “cabs” from the barn to the airport on one end and airport to barn on the other end. Food costs the same at home or away, since thoroughbreds get room service at both places.

Accommodations are paid for by Arlington for both horses and trainers, the latter in a nearby hotel.

“It’s a nice weekend,” said the 35-year-old trainer. “And there’s certainly a lot of money to be won.”

Big money hardly translates to easy money.

“These are the three toughest races they’ve ever had,” Rash said.

For a while, Rash was thinking about entering three horses in the biggest and toughest of the bunch. He had Blues Traveller and Alex The Great set for the Million, and he was considering running the mare, User Friendly, in the Million as well. The size of the Million field made the decision for him and he squeezed User Friendly into the Beverly D.

As a consequence, User Friendly must only contend with the likes of Flawlessly, Whittingham’s mare, as well as Corrazona, Potridee and European invader Hatoof.

In the Million, Rash’s horses will be up against Paradise Creek, the top turf horse; another European invader, Muhtarran, and familiar names such as Fanmore, Fastness and Star Of Cozzene.

“That’s not all,” Rash said. “This is a field with good depth.”

The Secretariat, at a mere $400,000, is almost the weekend’s stepchild. Saltgrass, the winner of half of the split Oceanside Stakes here opening day, will represent Rash in the race for 3-year-olds.

“If you’ve got good horses you can’t duck good horses,” Rash said. “User Friendly has beaten the best before. Alex The Great is getting better and better. Blues Traveller can run with the best. And I’ve been itching to run Saltgrass at a mile and a quarter. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

When the weekend ends, Rash will be focusing on the next weekend. That would be Labor Day at Del Mar, when he will have entrants in Sunday’s $250,000 Del Mar Handicap and Monday’s $300,000 Del Mar Derby.

Navarone, coming off a third-place finish in the Escondido Handicap on Aug. 8, will go in the Del Mar Handicap for older horses.

“I thought he was the best that last start,” Rash said. “But he got shut off on the turn. He had an easy race, though, and he’ll get to drop some weight, so I think he’ll come out ready to tear up the track.”

Rash will have two horses in the Derby, Powis Castle and Blue Grass Prince. Powis Castle and Saltgrass gave Rash a sweep of the Oceanside Stakes and Blue Grass Prince is a highly acclaimed English import.

The possibility exists that the Derby will be split into two fields, at $225,000 each, and Rash relishes the thought.

“I won both ends opening day,” he said. “Why not do it again?”