LOS ALAMITOS : Even for Schvaneveldt, 3,000 Is a Big Deal

Trainer Blane Schvaneveldt had quite a weekend at Los Alamitos, winning the Chicado V Handicap with My Debut on Saturday after having won his 3,000th quarter horse race at the track the previous night with Million Dollar Down.

Schvaneveldt’s name has become synonymous with success in quarter horse racing. In a career that has spanned four decades, Schvaneveldt has won just about all there is to win--races and awards. He is the only person to have twice won the title of champion trainer since the American Quarter Horse Assn. initiated the award in 1985. He has been the leading trainer at Los Alamitos 36 times and is the only trainer to have won more races at a meet than the leading jockey.

Winning his 3,000th quarter horse race only increased his stature.

“I didn’t dream of it,” Schvaneveldt said. “That’s a lot of races.”

Million Dollar Down gave Schvaneveldt No. 3,000 in the eighth race, a trial for the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity. But there were some unusual circumstances.

In a rare mistake, track announcer Ed Burgart called Seeking, not Million Dollar Down, the winner of the race. Then, as the photo-finish sign appeared on the tote board, Seeking’s No. 7 was briefly posted as the winner. But after the photo had been examined, Schvaneveldt and Million Dollar Down were in the winner’s circle.

“We didn’t know if we’d won the race [until then],” Schvaneveldt said. “We knew it was real close.”

Million Dollar Down’s winning time of 17.86 seconds qualified him for the Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 6.

Then on Saturday night, Schvaneveldt was back in the winner’s circle after My Debut’s victory in the Grade III Chicado V Handicap. That gave Schvaneveldt a record six victories in the stake, more than any other trainer.

Ridden by Roman Figueroa, My Debut broke on top and cruised to an easy three-quarter-length triumph.

“He’s been getting a little better each trip,” Schvaneveldt said of My Debut, who will have his toughest test in the Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 20.

According to Schvaneveldt, Refrigerator will also aim for the Championship, which offers the last guaranteed berth in the Champion of Champions.

Los Alamitos Notes

World Champion Down With Debt is winning again, having taken the $40,000 Jack Daniels California Challenge Championship last Friday night. That qualified her for the Grade I AQHA Challenge Championship, a race she won last year, to be held at Retama Park in San Antonio on Nov. 11. . . . Magnificent Effort had the fastest qualifying time for the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity in winning the first of five trials. Jockey Kip Didericksen rode Magnificent Effort, who covered the 350 yards in 17.71 seconds.