SANTA ANITA : Injured Wekiva Springs Out of Big ‘Cap

Wekiva Springs, who had a six-race winning streak snapped in the Strub Stakes this month, will miss the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 11.

Trainer Bob Hess. Jr., said a quarter crack on the Runaway Groom colt’s right front hoof will force him to miss the 1 1/4-mile race.

At one point, the Big ‘Cap was to be a showdown between Holy Bull and Wekiva Springs, but the former was injured in the Donn Handicap and has been retired.

“It’s disappointing, but not tragic,” Hess said. “I talked to (owner Donald Dizney) and we agreed that it makes no sense to take a chance on making the quarter crack any worse.”

Hess said the horse could return in April, when he might make his grass debut.

Another possibility includes the $200,000 Commonwealth at Keeneland, which would serve as a prep for the Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park in May.

Third behind Dare And Go and Dramatic Gold in the Strub, Wekiva Springs might have suffered the injury before the race.

“Even though it didn’t show up until six days after the race, my assumption is that it was a blind quarter crack,” Hess said. “And he didn’t look comfortable in the Strub.”

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Alex Solis ended an 0-for-64 slump when he won the fourth race Wednesday on favored Perfect Paster, then returned to win the sixth on 7-1 long shot Seal Your Fate.

Both winners were saddled by trainer Mark Molina, who had been shut out with 14 starters through the first 42 days of the meeting.

Horse Racing Notes

Corey Nakatani, who will begin a five-day suspension today, won the last three races and holds a 62-45 lead over Kent Desormeaux in the jockey standings. . . . Afternoon Deelites worked three furlongs in 35 3/5 and probably will make his next start in the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 19. . . . There were three perfect tickets in the Pick Six. Each was worth more than $173,000. . . . The victory by $93.40 longshot Kaleem’s Dream in Monday’s second race was the first for trainer Dale Landers, 76, at Santa Anita since 1990. Landers, a former jockey, won the second race in Santa Anita history. He rode Let Her Play on Dec. 25, 1934.