OAK TREE : Hofmans Makes Best of Bad Break

Trainer David Hofmans was loitering in the paddock Thursday at Santa Anita, watching the TV monitor before the sixth race, presumably checking what the bettors thought of Crystal And Roses, who is trained by his son, Grant.

He looked right at home in the paddock, but acknowledged that it felt strange, still being in California, and that it will feel even stranger Saturday, when the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic is run in New York.

Hofmans had planned on being there with Dramatic Gold, a 4-year-old gelding who finished third in last year’s Classic.

Instead he will be here, watching Dramatic Gold compete for the first time since last March, in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap.

“If we had continued [as planned], we would have been in the Breeders’ Cup Classic--I would assume,” Hofmans said.

The change in plans was necessitated when Dramatic Gold broke a cannon bone (in the shin area), during the Santa Anita Handicap last March, requiring the insertion of three screws in his leg. Thoughts of a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup were dashed, but the screws are gone now and Hofmans says the horse is responding brilliantly in training for its return in the Morvich.

Dramatic Gold, with Corey Black aboard, figures to be the morning-line favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong race on Santa Anita’s main track.

The son of Slew O’ Gold, owned by John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farms, Dramatic Gold had quite a campaign as a 3-year-old, highlighted by his winning the Molson Million in Toronto in September 1994, finishing second in the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita and coming in third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind Concern and Tabasco Cat.

As a 4-year-old, Dramatic Gold finished second in the San Fernando and Strub stakes at Santa Anita before breaking down and finishing seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Ironic, that the horse is beginning his comeback on the same day as the Breeders’ Cup?

“I was thinking the same thing,” Hofmans said.

As for Crystal And Roses, he finished fourth.

Horse Racing Notes

Evil’s Pic, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye and trained by Bill Shoemaker, broke poorly but made a late stretch run and edged Embroidered and Roujoleur in Thursday’s feature. Even-money favorite Call Now, ridden by Alex Solis, faltered around the far turn and finished fifth. Evil’s Pic paid $11.60, $6.40 and $7. . . . Beginning Sunday, first post time at Santa Anita changes from 1 p.m. to 12:30.