Raw Gold Gives Sire Rahy Second Weekend Winner

Santa Anita’s two weekend stakes were a fine endorsement for the sire Rahy.

The day after two of his daughters, Serena’s Song and Exotic Wood, staged a classic battle while finishing 1-2 in the Santa Monica, Raw Gold, another of his offspring, won the $104,550 Santa Ynez Stakes Sunday.

Much more relaxed than she was last year, Raw Gold, the 2-1 second choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, battled with Pareja throughout and went on to win by a length in 1:22 3/5 for the seven furlongs. Hidden Lake, the 6-5 favorite, was a no-excuse third, a half-length behind Pareja.

Trained by David Hofmans for owner Georgia Ridder, the smallish bay won the first two starts of her life, then failed in two stakes before being rested for a couple of months.

She won on her return, but the main question in the Santa Ynez was how she would handle the extra furlong.

Obviously, it wasn’t much of a problem and she’ll now get a chance to see what she can do around two turns. Next for Raw Gold is the one-mile Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 18.

“I think she’ll go two turns easier than she did seven-eighths,” said Hofmans, who turned 53 Saturday. “Imagine if she got [to go the half-mile] in 47 [seconds]? I mean, what are you going to have left?

“This little filly has matured so much in the past year. She got hooked every step of the way today and had enough to finish strong.”

Antley, who has ridden Raw Gold in four of her six races, also notices a difference in her from 1995.

“She’s improving and keeps proving herself,” he said. “Early in her career, it was a question mark if she could hang on for six furlongs. I have to give the credit to [Hofmans] because he’s got her more and more settled to where she will stretch out a little more.

“She relaxed well today and that other filly [Pareja] looked her right in the eye the first eighth of a mile and she didn’t even get rank and run away from them. She just settled in stride. She did everything right.”

Pareja, who broke her maiden in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes on New Year’s Eve, also is likely to run in the Las Virgenes, according to trainer Cotton Tinsley, and she did well to hold second after chasing the winner throughout on a day when speed didn’t hold up that well.

“My filly ran very well,” said Eddie Delahoussaye of the runner-up. “We were hoping something would go out with [Raw Gold]. Next thing you know, I was out there. But we were going so easy, I knew it would be between us and Antley’s filly. The other filly just outfinished us the last part, but my filly ran great.”

Hidden Lake, who was looking for her first stakes victory, finished 7 1/2 lengths ahead of Pike Place Dancer, who found Southern California much tougher than she had Golden Gate and Bay Meadows. The half-sister to Petionville had won both of her previous starts. Overmatched longshots Woodyoubelieveit and R Affair completed the order of finish.

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A field of 11 seems likely for the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Sunday, the third and final leg of the Strub Series.

Two 4-year-olds--Flying Chevron and Mighty Magee--are shipping in from the east and are expected to arrive early this week.

An upset winner over Wekiva Springs and Dramatic Gold in the NYRA Mile on Nov. 25, Flying Chevron, who has five victories in eight starts, is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, while Mighty Magee, who will be supplemented to the Strub for $20,000, is due Tuesday.

The Strub also will feature eight horses who ran in the San Fernando Stakes, including the winner, Helmsman. Others returning are Gold And Steel, Pinfloron, The Key Rainbow, Oncefortheroad, Mr Purple, Big Sky Jim and Score Quick.

Afternoon Deelites, who won the Malibu Stakes in his comeback on opening day, will also be back in the 1 1/4 mile race, which will be telecast live by ESPN.

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Jockey Fernando Valenzuela ended an extended slump when Falcon Bid won the fifth race on Saturday. It was Valenzuela’s first victory since Dec. 22 at Hollywood Park.

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Dr. Caton, the much-heralded but untried 3-year-old from the Wayne Lukas barn, worked seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 Sunday morning. He is expected to make his debut in the middle of next month, according to Lukas.

Lukas also worked Hennessy, the beaten favorite in the Hollywood Futurity last month, Sunday. He went five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.

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Favored Mecke overcame a troubled trip to beat River Majesty and win the $50,000 Super Bowl Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The race was simulcast at Santa Anita.