OAK TREE : Score Quick Scores Big in Morvich

Score Quick took the lead late in the stretch drive and held off Dramatic Gold and Fu Man Slew to win the $100,000 Morvich Handicap over 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday.

The 3-year-old colt, ridden by G.F. Almeida, jumped in front by a head at midstretch and brushed with Fu Man Slew more than once before prevailing by nearly a length at the wire.

It was impressive in more than one respect: The Mel Stute-trained horse, who went off at 6-1, was coming off a victory in the $60,000 Hyannis Port only last Sunday.

“To come back in six days as sharp as he did, that was unusual,” Almeida said. “I had a little problem because the horse in front of me [Fu Man Slew, ridden by Paul Toscano] tried to get out. We had three bumps, but I didn’t cause any of them. I stayed in my lane.”

Dramatic Gold caught Fu Man Slew just past midstretch and the two raced evenly to the wire with Dramatic Gold getting the nod in a photo finish. The 8-5 favorite, Forest Gazelle, ridden by Laffit Pincay, never threatened and finished last.

Dramatic Gold’s trainer David Hofmans was beaming afterward, despite not winning. And with good reason.

It was the 4-year-old gelding’s first race since suffering a broken cannon bone [in the shin area] during the Santa Anita Handicap last March.

“This is a comeback race,” Hofmans said. “The fact that we didn’t win is disappointing, to get beat that close. But I’m happy that he came back. I was hoping he could get to the outside instead of being stuck on inside. If we had gotten to the outside . . . I don’t know.”

Jockey Corey Black, who made a strong move to the inside when unable to get to the outside at the top of the stretch, had even more praise for the horse.

“I couldn’t believe how much speed he had,” Black said. “Man, he jumped leaving [the gate] and I’m thinking, ‘Wow!’ because he warmed up kind of shy and I didn’t expect him to show much speed.

“I didn’t have the ideal spot; I would have liked to go outside, but the opportunity wasn’t there so I had to take what was given to me. I got a clean run through, but you hate to be pinned down on the rail.”

It was originally hoped that Dramatic Gold, owned by John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, would be competing in the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Asked if he watched Cigar’s sizzling performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Hofmans smiled and said, “Yes, and I’m glad we weren’t there.”

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Many of the 22,376 who came to Santa Anita arrived early to take advantage of satellite wagering on Breeders’ Cup races.

In all, $2,466,652.70 was bet at the Arcadia track on the seven races beamed in from Belmont Park in New York.

And there was only one instance in which local prejudice was reflected in the payoffs.

In the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Desert Stormer won and paid $31 for a $2 bet at Belmont Park. At Santa Anita, the horse paid only $14.

Desert Stormer, however, had little to do with the discrepancy. The horse was coupled in a mutuel field with Lit De Justice, a far more popular and explosive horse who has had more success locally, and who was ridden by Corey Nakatani, the leading jockey at Santa Anita.

So, in essence, those who bet on the California-based gray--which finished third--to win were bailed out by the lesser-regarded mare.

The payoff for Cigar in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was close to the same: He paid $3.40, $3.60 and $2.90 in New York and $3.60, $3.60 and $3.00 at Santa Anita.

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Horse Racing Notes

Jacodra’s Devil is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for today’s $100,000 Louis R. Rowan Handicap. The 4-year-old filly is coming off a third-place finish in the Autumn Days Handicap here on Oct. 4. . . . Santa Anita’s first post today and the remainder of the meet will be at 12:30 p.m. instead of 1. The lone exception is Nov. 11, Veterans Day and California Cup Day, with first post at noon.