Mandella Seeks Strub Stakes Repeat

John Canty has been the only trainer to saddle consecutive winners in the Strub Stakes. He won the 1972 running with Unconscious and repeated the next year with Royal Oak.

Richard Mandella, who won last year’s Strub with Dare And Go, has the only chance to match Canty’s record when he runs Afternoon Deelites on Sunday in the 49th edition of the $500,000 Santa Anita stake.

Afternoon Deelites, 4-5 when he won the Malibu on Dec. 26, will be a heavy favorite again in a field of nine for the 1 1/4-mile race. Mandella says he doesn’t think the distance will be too much for his colt.

“Until I started getting questions about the mile and a quarter this week, I never gave it any thought,” Mandella said. “This colt is good enough to do anything.”

Also in the field are Helmsman and Gold And Steel, who were first and second, separated by half a length, in the San Fernando three weeks ago. Here’s the way they’ll line up in the gate, starting on the inside:

Gold And Steel, with Corey Nakatani riding, 120 pounds; Pinfloron, Russell Baze, 118; Afternoon Deelites, Kent Desormeaux, 120; Helmsman, Chris McCarron, 122; Mr Purple, Alex Solis, 118; The Key Rainbow, Gary Stevens, 118; Score Quick, Rene Douglas, 120; Mighty Magee, Eddie Delahoussaye, 118; and Oncefortheroad, Chris Antley, 118.

In other races on Sunday’s card, six 3-year-olds are entered in the $100,000 Santa Catalina Stakes and nine sprinters are set to run in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Handicap.

Matty G, winner of the Hollywood Futurity, will carry 124 pounds, spotting his rivals either nine or 11 pounds apiece, in the Santa Catalina. The other contenders are Smithfield, Alyrob, Odyle, Fourstar attraction and Prince Of Thieves.

Lit De Justice, third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is the 122-pound high weight in the Palos Verdes and will be ridden by Delahoussaye in place of the suspended Corey Nakatani. His rivals will be Lakota Brave, Siphon, Wild Gold, Mr. Peter P., Goldigger’s Dream, High Stakes Player, Powis Castle and A.J. Jett. Nakatani will be able to ride in the Strub because of California’s designated-race rule.

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Horse Racing Notes

Unbridled’s Song, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the future-book favorite for the Kentucky Derby, will face only four opponents Sunday as he makes his 3-year-year debut in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. . . . His appeal denied, jockey Chris McCarron will start a five-day suspension on Wednesday. . . . Serena’s Song won’t run in the La Canada a week from Sunday and trainer Wayne Lukas’ plans are indefinite. . . . Dr. Caton, one of Lukas’ top 3-year-olds, will make his debut in a maiden race Sunday. . . . Flying Chevron is missing the Strub because of a fever. . . . Trainer Frank Passero, who set a national record with his ninth and 10 consecutive winners Thursday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., ran his winning streak to 11 on Friday with a victory by Lightning Force. But his streak ended in same race, as the other half of Passero’s entry, Premier Explosion, finished third. Passero then had winners in his next two races, meaning the streak would have reached 13 had he scratched Premier Explosion.