SANTA ANITA : Problems With Turf? River Flyer Can’t Find Them in San Marcos

Don’t count River Flyer among the many horses who have trouble handling Santa Anita’s much-criticized turf course.

Starting a new winning streak after finding 1 1/2 miles a bit much in the Hollywood Turf Cup, the 4-year-old Riverman colt is perfect in three starts on the Arcadia turf after a one-length victory in the $159,700 San Marcos Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ridden superbly by Chris Antley, the 4-1 third choice relaxed off the pace while 7-5 favorite Romarin and longshot Jahafil sprinted clear early. River Flyer accelerated swiftly around the final turn and quickly drew clear.

Winning for the fifth time in his last six starts and successful in five of seven races on turf, River Flyer completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:05 3/5 on a soggy course and earned $93,200 for his owners John and Betty Mabee.

Silver Wizard, a 10-1 shot, rallied to beat 7-2 second choice Savinio by a neck for second. Romarin, who showed the way for more than six furlongs, backed up badly and finished last in the field of seven, 30 lengths behind River Flyer. It was the first defeat in four American starts for the 5-year-old Brazilian.

“The track was a little soft and he really didn’t get a hold of it,” said Corey Nakatani of Romarin. “The fractions were pretty easy for him, and he was loose-reined and relaxed. But he didn’t get a hold of the track at all. He just was fighting the track the whole way.”

River Flyer had no such problem, and he also showed 10 furlongs is within his range.

“The rains hadn’t affected his training that much,” said trainer David Hofmans. “He ran 1 1/2 miles on Dec. 11, so we didn’t have to do a whole lot with him between races except to let him freshen up.

“It’s encouraging that he doesn’t have to carry his track around with him. We thought Romarin might just come off the hill and take off running. So I told (Antley), ‘Just sit there, see where you are and go from there.’ But, when he makes his move, he’s awesome. When he kicks . . . I don’t know if there are many horses who can stay with him.”

Not very relaxed early in his career, River Flyer is more settled these days and his connections are enjoying it more.

“He was like a different horse today,” said Antley. “He was relaxed early on, more different than when I’ve ever ridden him. He just fell out of there and galloped. He was never in the bridle pulling me.

“At the three-eighths pole, I just tapped him on the shoulder, not knowing what was under me yet. When I tapped him, he exploded right then. I was very confident at that point.”

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Looking to move closer to Alysheba and John Henry on the all-time earnings list, Best Pal is the 2-1 favorite in the $200,000 San Pasqual Handicap today at Santa Anita.

With 16 victories from 38 starts, the 7-year-old Habitony gelding has banked $5,129,645 for the Mabees, putting him third on the all-time list.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Best Pal is training well for his first start of 1995, and he will try to make up for his second-place finish behind Hill Pass in last year’s San Pasqual. Chris McCarron will again ride Best Pal, who has worked six times since his four-length victory in the Native Diver Handicap on Dec. 4.

Slew Of Damascus, the beaten favorite in the William P. Kyne Handicap at Bay Meadows last month, is the 7-2 second choice. Gary Stevens, who rode him to an 8-1 upset in the Hollywood Gold Cup last summer, is back aboard today.

Also in the field are Nancys French Fry, a former claimer who won the Kyne by 14 lengths on a sloppy track and would move up considerably today if it rains; Tossofthecoin, second to Best Pal in the Native Diver and also in 11 of his 25 starts; Pollock’s Luck, College Town and Del Mar Dennis. Romarin ran Saturday and will be scratched.

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Santa Anita will ask the California Horse Racing Board for one makeup day and will also run additional races on some days after losing three days earlier this month because of bad weather.

The proposed date of the makeup card is Monday, April 10. The track also plans on running 10 races on weekends, holidays and closing day (April 24), beginning Feb. 10.

“After talking with owners, trainers and jockeys, we decided it is not an ideal time to introduce several six-day weeks,” said Santa Anita President Cliff Goodrich. “We believe our patrons will enjoy the added races on weekends, rather than the addition of several Monday cards.”

Heavy rain resulted in the races being canceled after the first race on Jan. 8, when the jockeys said the track was unsafe to ride. Santa Anita then called off racing on Jan. 11-12.

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Horse Racing Notes

Post time today is 12:20 p.m., 10 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the simulcast of Holy Bull’s 1995 debut in the Olympic Handicap from Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong race will be shown between the third and fourth races at Santa Anita. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover for today of more than $118,000. . . . Jockey Fernando Valenzuela, injured in a spill in the meeting’s first race on Dec. 26, is expected to have his back brace removed this week and will then undergo a new set of X-rays. Valenzuela suffered compressed vertebrae and could ride again in three weeks. . . . Changed Tune, the 2-1 favorite while coupled with Jacodra’s Devil, rallied from off the pace to win the $61,975 Irish O’Brien Handicap. Ridden by Chris McCarron, the 6-year-old Tunerup mare won by two lengths over Velvet Tulip. She covered the about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:17 4/5. . . . Favored Suave Prospect cruised home eight lengths in front of Bullet Trained to win the $75,000 Preview Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. . . . Corey Nakatani won three times Saturday.