Sandpit, Red Bishop Are Top Choices Today in Capistrano

Trainer Richard Mandella will go for his second San Juan Capistrano victory in three years today when he sends out Sandpit against eight opponents in the Grade I race.

Kotashaan won for Mandella in 1992 en route to being voted horse of the year, and Sandpit is even-money on the morning line to win for the fifth time in six starts in the United States.

Perfect in three tries on the Santa Anita turf course, Sandpit has won both of his starts this year after being rested following his fifth-place finish in the Japan Cup on Nov. 27.

The 5-2 second choice in the Capistrano, which is run at about 1 3/4 miles on the grass, is the well-traveled Red Bishop. Since the beginning of 1994, the 7-year-old Silver Hawk horse has competed in the United Arab Emirates, England, France, the United States and Hong Kong.

In his previous start, Red Bishop won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on April 1, beating Volochine by a little more than two lengths. Mike Smith will be in to ride.

The rest of the field, from the rail out: Liyoun, Bataillon, Square Cut, Ofuscador, River Rhythm and Special Price. Frenchpark was scratched in favor of the San Jacinto Handicap, the closing-day feature on Monday.

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Making his first start since finishing 10th in the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 20, Unfinished Symph defeated Vaudeville and seven others in the $200,000 San Francisco Mile Handicap on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

With Chris Antley aboard for the first time, the 4-year-old Aloha Prospector colt sat close to the swift early pace, then won easily in 1:34 even though Antley lost his whip inside the final furlong.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who had talked before the race about how well Unfinished Symph had been training at Hollywood Park, the winner paid $12 after his fifth victory in 14 starts.

Vaudeville, the 2-1 favorite making his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, finished ahead of 5-2 second choice Torch Rouge.

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Larry The Legend, who continues to recover after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last Tuesday to remove a bone chip from his left knee, even has fans in Hawaii.

Mrs. Jeri Leong of Honolulu sent the 3-year-old colt a bouquet of orchids on Friday. Enclosed was a card and a $50 future book ticket for the Kentucky Derby. The card read: “Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well--but glad to hear your surgery went well. As you can see, you have been a ‘Legend’ to me for a long time--I bought (the future book ticket) almost two months ago.

“The most important thing is a speedy recovery--I hope these flowers from Hawaii make it a little easier--our horses in Hawaii eat orchids like these--so help yourself to a special treat from your fans in Hawaii.”

Ever since it was revealed Larry The Legend was going to miss the Kentucky Derby because of injury, owner-trainer Craig Lewis has been receiving letters from well-wishers.

“We got over 20 letters (on Friday) alone,” he said. “Some people have written and said they had made plans to attend the Kentucky Derby, but now they’ve canceled them because Larry’s not running in the race.”

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Urbane, who had some tough losses to Serena’s Song in the Hollywood Starlet and Santa Anita Oaks, had little trouble with five opponents in the $334,650 Ashland Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

Beaten by a head by Serena’s Song in the Oaks in her most recent start, the 3-year-old Citidancer filly and 3-10 favorite rolled home four lengths in front of 13-1 shot Conquistadoress.

Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye for trainer Brian Mayberry and owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel, Urbane completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 2/5.

Conquistadoress finished a head in front of Post It, then came Niner’s Home, Minister Wife and Mia’s Hope.

“She was very relaxed down the backstretch,” said Delahoussaye. “When I called on her, she just rebroke and I said, ‘Well, it should be all over with.’ She’s a nice filly.”

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Longliner overcame a trouble-filled trip to beat 3-2 favorite Jade Dancer by a half-length in the $80,175 La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita.

After losing his first six starts, the 3-year-old Flying Paster colt has won back-to-back races for trainer Gary Jones and owner Rick Barnes.

Trapped behind the very slow pace being set by the overmatched Rocksalt and pressed by Jade Dancer, Longliner got clear in the stretch under Chris McCarron and won in 1:51 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Jade Dancer was two lengths ahead of Chocolate Threads, the 2-1 second choice, then came Simply Caldo, Trophy Time and Rocksalt.

Bred in California by Cardiff Stud Farm, Longliner paid $6.80 and earned $46,425 for Barnes.

Horse Racing Notes

There are two other minor stakes on the program today. Shapely Scrapper is the 2-1 favorite in the $60,000 Time To Leave at six furlongs, and Tossofthecoin is the 8-5 choice in the $65,000 Bates Motel at one mile. . . . Kent Desormeaux won three races at Pimlico on Saturday, but finished second on 17-10 favorite Western Echo in the day’s main event, the $200,000 Federico Tesio Stakes. Oliver’s Twist won the Tesio by a neck as the 3-1 second choice, covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52. . . . Turk Passer, a 5-1 shot, won the $200,000 Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths, beating 1-1 favorite The Vid, ridden by Laffit Pincay. Turk Passer ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:54 2/5 and paid $12.20.