Helmsman Likes the Switch to Dirt

Making their first start on dirt a winning one in the San Fernando Stakes was the start of something big for Interco and In Excess.

Trainer Wally Dollase and his nine partners in the ownership of Helmsman hope the same holds true for their 4-year-old colt.

Interco and In Excess went on to many more main track victories and with his half-length win Saturday, Helmsman, already a proven commodity on turf, has many options the remainder of 1996.

Next is the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Feb. 4 where he’ll try to give Dollase a victory in a Grade I race that barely escaped him two years ago. Nonproductive asset, a horse claimed by Dollase for owner Richard Stephen, lost by a nose to Diazo in the 1994 Strub.

Never worse than second in four American starts before the San Fernando, Helmsman overcame a less-than-ideal trip under Chris McCarron to win in 1:48 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles. Two other colts making their main track debuts, Gold And Steel and a troubled The Key Rainbow, finished second and third.

Being a son of El Gran Senor, Helmsman, who was purchased in Europe by Dollase last year, had a right to handle the main track and his trainer was confident considering how well he had worked at Hollywood Park.

“He had been working so easy, it was unbelievable,” Dollase said. “He worked super over the course at Hollywood. He’s a very sound horse and he’s just a runner.

“Chris said he was pulling him out of the saddle the whole race. He didn’t have a smooth trip, but Chris was very impressed. I feel very fortunate to have a good horse like this.

“He’s just a natural runner, he’s so powerful and he’s a very good looking horse. When you have all those things to work with, it makes for an exceptional runner. But the number one ingredient he has is a lot of heart.”

Gold And Steel, kept in the clear by Corey Nakatani, got the lead in the stretch but couldn’t quite stay while finishing a length ahead of The Key Rainbow.

Gary Stevens, who picked up the mount on The Key Rainbow when Eddie Delahoussaye took off his mounts because of the death of his mother, thought he rode the best horse Saturday.

“We were real unlucky,” he said. “It was a real bunched-up field all the way and I was caught down inside, just praying for room, and I never got it until it was too late.

“He handled the dirt great and the further he goes, the better. You don’t want to take credit away from [Helmsman], but, with clear sailing from the eighth pole, there is little question in my mind that I probably would have got the job done.”

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Horse Racing Notes

Helmsman paid $6.60 as the 2-1 favorite and he collected $134,500 of the $214,500 purse for his owners. . . . The San Fernando was one of three wins for Chris McCarron on Saturday. He also scored with Dancing Islander in the second and first-time starter Tiger Talk, who was very impressive breaking his maiden in the third. . . . After a three-day carryover in the Pick Six, formful racing returned to Santa Anita. Four favorites won in the six races and the Pick Six paid $8,682. . . . McCarron now has five victories in the San Fernando.

Seventh in the Matriarch as the 2-1 favorite in her final start of 1995, Alpride is the 8-5 favorite to get back on track in the $125,000 San Gorgonio Handicap today. Proven over the local turf course, Alpride will have only five opponents in the 1 1/8-mile San Gorgonio after the scratch Saturday of Fanjica. McCarron will ride for trainer Ron McAnally and owner Jenny Craig. . . . Best Pal, Alphabet Soup and Luthier Fever head a field of nine entered for Monday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.