OAK TREE : Track Gal Wins Ancient Title and a Trip to the Breeders’ Cup

Fillies traditionally do well in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which is why Track Gal will be added to the list of distaffers who’ll battle the boys on Oct. 28 at Belmont Park.

Even before Track Gal earned a trip to New York by winning Monday’s $99,150 Ancient Title Handicap at Santa Anita, the fillies scheduled to run in the $1-million Sprint were formidable: There’s Hever Golf Rose, who’s won stakes in England, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden this year; and Lake Coniston, a hotshot from England.

The fillies Safely Kept and Very Subtle have won the Sprint and the last two years the fillies Meafara and Soviet Problem were barely beaten in the six-furlong race.

Track Gal, a half-length winner over Siphon while running 1:08 1/5 in the Ancient Title, runs with Lasix and will benefit from New York’s recent legalization of the diuretic that curbs bleeding.

“If we get a dry track back there, I think she’ll have a good chance,” said John Sadler, who trains Track Gal for her breeders and owners, William Oldknow and Robert Phipps. “It isn’t something you want to make a steady diet of, running against the boys, but this time of year it seems to be more effective for some reason. This is simply a very good filly, and she’s just come along so nicely. She just keeps moving forward.”

The way to Track Gal’s sixth victory in a row and her seventh in 10 starts was made easier when Lakota Brave, winner of five of seven and the 3-2 favorite, jumped in the air when the gate opened and almost dumped his jockey, Alex Solis, who temporarily lost his irons. In last place, 11 lengths behind Track Gal after the first quarter-mile, Lakota Brave finished fourth, beaten by about two lengths.

Both Solis and Lakota Brave’s trainer, Bruce Headley, were livid after the race. As he stormed off the track, Headley said: “Go ask Tucker [Slender],” a reference to the Oak Tree starter.

In the jockeys’ room, the other riders in the race watched the television rerun and marveled that Solis didn’t go down.

“They took too long [at the start],” Solis said. “My horse was up in the air when the gate opened and I don’t know how the hell I stayed on. That wasn’t a bad break, it was a horrible break. We got left 15 lengths back and only got beat by two. This horse should have won easy. I’m going to bring my . . . grandmother to start the races. Then maybe I’ll get a better break.”

Slender couldn’t be reached for comment.

Gary Stevens was riding Track Gal because Chris McCarron is sitting out a five-day suspension.

The 4-year-old daughter of Track Barron and Golden Galaxy paid $9.60 as the third betting choice.

“She’s very, very quick and she’s all heart,” Stevens said. “Chris told me a lot about her [Sunday]. He said that when you turn her loose, she’ll give you something. His input was real beneficial. I definitely think she would have a big shot in the Breeders’ Cup. I haven’t seen any standout sprinters on the East Coast. With her tactical speed and as quick as she is, she’s got to have a big say.”

Sadler, 39, had been training on his own for several years before he burst into prominence locally in 1986 with the filly Melair, who beat Snow Chief, the Preakness winner, in the Silver Screen Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Sadler said Track Gal gave him his second stakes victory by a filly in mixed company.

Sadler wanted to run Track Gal against fillies and mares in the opening-day Autumn Days Handicap last Wednesday, but was concerned about Santa Anita’s new turf course.

“That race was 6 1/2 furlongs, down the hill, and this is a big filly,” Sadler said. “I didn’t want to be a guinea pig for the new course.”

Siphon finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Forest Gazelle, the third-place finisher who also broke awkwardly and lost ground at the start.

Horse Racing Notes

Eduardo Inda, a longtime assistant to trainer Ron McAnally before moving on to train for Marshall Naify in mid-year, is headed for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with Borodislew, who won Sunday’s Lady’s Secret Handicap. Inda has been winning at a .441 clip with the Naify outfit and Borodislew is four for four in his career. . . . Jockeys Martin Pedroza and Jose Valdivia Jr. have been suspended three days apiece for failing to maintain straight courses with mounts over the weekend. Pedroza’s suspension starts Thursday, Valdivia’s on Friday. . . . Friendly Lover won the $125,000 Boojum Handicap at Belmont Park, beating Lite the Fuse by two lengths.