OAK TREE : McCarron Guides Jewel Princess to Nine-Length Linda Vista Win

By the way she acted, Jewel Princess tipped trainer Wally Dollase that she was going to run well in the $102,875 Linda Vista Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita.

But even Dollase was stunned by just how impressive she was in her first race on the main track in nearly eight months.

Content to sit fourth early in the field of five 3-year-old fillies, the 5-2 second choice cruised up to the leaders on the turn under Chris McCarron, then kicked away.

At the end, she had nine lengths on 11-10 favorite Radu Cool and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 2/5. In winning for the sixth time in 12 starts, she also put to rest the notion that she’s strictly a turf horse.

Although she had won two races at Calder on the dirt, Jewel Princess didn’t face much competition in either of those races, and she had been beaten by more than 25 lengths in her only other start on the main track when she was fifth in the Santa Anita Oaks on March 12.

McCarron, who has been aboard for two of the filly’s victories, still thinks she might prefer the grass.

“She still may be better [on turf], but she sure ran great today,” said McCarron. “Wally told me if she came out of there running and wanted to show speed to not discourage her. He also suggested that if she wanted to drop back early maybe I shouldn’t let her. He didn’t want her coming from as far back as last time.

“When I turned the backside, I chirped to her to make sure she didn’t drop back any further and she got into the race real strong at the half-mile pole. She responded very well. She was impressive.”

Dollase, who trains the daughter of Key To The Mint for owner Richard Stephen, could put her right back on grass, where she has three wins in seven tries. She may come back in the $100,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes on Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs.

“She had trained better for this race than she ever had,” said Dollase. “She must be a Fall filly or something. She’s on top of her game right now.

“Boy, did she make a move [around the turn]. I thought the others were standing still.”

Radu Cool, who had some trouble on the first turn, finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Ski Dancer, who battled Born To Be Blue on the pace for more than a half-mile, then came Main Slew and Born To Be Blue.

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Scheduled to race on Lasix for the first time today, Mr Purple is the 3-1 favorite in the $125,000 Volante Handicap at Santa Anita.

Third in the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 7, the 3-year-old Deputy Minister colt will have nine opponents in the Volante, run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Canyon Crest, who would have been one of the longest shots in the field, was scratched Saturday.

Although he hasn’t been off the board in four starts on turf, Mr Purple has only one win on the surface compared to four victories on the main track. Corey Nakatani will again be aboard for owner Alex Campbell and trainer Ron McAnally.

Helmsmam, the beaten favorite in the Bay Meadows Derby three weeks ago, is the 7-2 second choice. He has a win and a second in two American starts. The colt who beat him at Bay Meadows, Virginia Carnival, is the 9-2 third choice.

The field also includes Lake George, returning to the turf after finishing seventh in the Molson Million in September at Woodbine. Trainer Mike Orman’s son of Vice Regent has two wins and a second--in the Del Mar Derby--in three tries on the grass.

Rug, The Key Rainbow, Longliner, Cuzzin Jeb, Shemaran and Seckar Vale are also due to run in the Volante.

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Best Pal, who will be trying for his second win in his third start in the $250,000 California Cup Classic, was given top weight of 124 pounds for the 1 1/8-mile race, which will be run as part of the $1-million California Cup on Saturday.

Upset by Charmonnier in the 1991 Classic, Best Pal returned to win in 1993 and he returned from a layoff last month to take the Skywalker Stakes on Oct. 18, pushing his career earnings to more than $5.6 million.

Next on the list of those expected to run are Luthier Fever (118 pounds), Geenger Man (117), Goldigger’s Dream (116), Flying Sensation and B Charlie (115) and Oncefortheroad (114).

In the other races restricted to horses bred in California, a field of seven is expected for the Mile on turf, topped by Megan’s Interco and Journalism. Wild Gold, Gundaghia and defending champion Uncaged Fury head the Sprint. Pirate’s Revenge will try to bounce back in the Matron.

Private Persuasion and Flying In The Lane top the Distaff. Judgement Maker heads the field for the Starter Handicap for males, and Elias Beach and Hillwalker are the two to beat in the Distaff Starter Handicap. Batroyale, who suffered her first loss in the Oak Leaf, tops the Juvenile Fillies. Cavonnier and Mr. Thrifty are the top contenders in the Juvenile.

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Alywow, who was injured when she last ran in California, will probably return this week to participate in the $600,000 Yellow Ribbon a week from today.

Canada’s horse of the year in 1994, Alywow was the 2-1 favorite in Hollywood Park’s Matriarch last year when she finished seventh. After the race, it was discovered that she had suffered a fracture in the cannon bone in her left hind leg.

After eight months on the shelf, the 4-year-old Alysheba filly has come back to run four times in 1995, including a 13-length win in the Canadian Maturity on Oct. 29 at Woodbine.

“I plan to talk to [owner] David Wilmot this weekend,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “But, there’s a very good chance we’ll come to California.”

At the moment, nine are considered probable for the Yellow Ribbon, including Possibly Perfect, Alpride and Onceinabluemamoon.

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Horse Racing Notes

Longshot Jo Knows won the $100,000 California Jockey Club Handicap on Saturday at Bay Meadows, beating Watch Rachel and Luzette in a thrilling finish. She was ridden by Dennis Carr for owners Don Dizney, Joe Kowal and Dale Klinger and trainer Heath Stokes. Work The Crowd, who would have been the odds-on favorite, was scratched because of a temperature. . . . Imperial Ridge’s win in the ninth race pushed owners Gary and Tim Burke over $1 million in earnings this year.