Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 28, 1996

The probable Santa Anita Handicap favorite, Helmsman, is a nice guy, but he refuses to comment about the injury that will keep Cigar in his barn in Florida on Saturday. . . .

So Helmsman’s trainer, Wally Dollase, was asked about the absence of America’s most famous racehorse from the year’s first $1-million race. . . .

“I feel most sorry for the people at Santa Anita,” Dollase said. “Having Cigar would have been great for the track. But the main thing is that it’s a minor injury. We’ll meet up somewhere along the line. Of course, our chances of winning Saturday are much better now. I guess you’d have to say that their misfortune is our good fortune.” . . .

Cigar, winner of 13 in a row, would have been an odds-on favorite in the Big ‘Cap. . . .

Helmsman probably will be a lukewarm choice. . . .

However, his trainer has been sizzling. . . .

Dollase’s 29 starters in Arcadia have won 11 races, seven of them stakes. Despite having a relatively small stable, he ranks third in the nation in purse earnings behind Bill Mott and Wayne Lukas. . . .

“Recruiting,” Dollase, 58, said about the secret of his success. “We’ve been able to pick the right horses to buy.” . . .

In April of 1995, he and his partners purchased Helmsman from Robert Sangster after an off-the-board finish in the European Free Handicap at Newmarket, England. . . .

Under Dollase’s care, he has won four races in the United States and finished second in two others. . . .

“He’s very athletic, has a great attitude and keeps getting better and better,” Dollase said about the 4-year-old bay colt who beat Afternoon Deelites by two lengths in the Strub Stakes on Feb. 4. . . .

Dollase owns only 5% of Helmsman but calls the shots. . . .

Monday, a 50% share was sold to Frank Stronach of Canada. . . .

On Saturday, Helmsman could make Stronach look good by collecting the first prize of $550,000. . . .

The first horse Dollase ever sent to the gate, My Thel, finished in a dead heat for first at Bay Meadows. . . .

Racing is a family affair for the Dollases. Son Craig and daughter Michelle have trainer’s licenses and daughter Aimee is working toward hers. Wife Cincy is a knowledgeable fan. Michelle is married to Corey Nakatani, one of the nation’s leading jockeys. . . .

It was Nakatani who provided Dollase with his greatest thrill in racing--a second-place finish aboard the trainer’s favorite horse, Itsallgreektome, in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile. . . .

Chris McCarron is Helmsman’s rider. . . .

“I don’t get Corey’s services very often,” Dollase said. “He’s going so good that you can’t get him unless you have a heavy favorite.” . . .

But the way the trainer is going at Santa Anita, look for father-in-law and son-in-law to be united more often.

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News item: Kansas City shortstop Jose Offerman says the manager or the fans or the media blamed almost every Dodger loss on him. Reaction: Maybe so, but Offerman never took the blame for any loss. . . .

One of the best reasons for optimism in the Angel camp is the prospect of Gary DiSarcina playing a full season. . . .

Who can blame Monica Seles for refusing to play tennis again in Germany? . . .

Oakland Raider defensive end Anthony Smith is an opera buff who often attends performances at the L.A. Music Center. . . .

You have to fancy the London Monarchs’ chances in the World League of American Football now that they’ve signed William “the Refrigerator” Perry. . . .

Those of us--or was I the only one?--who picked the Sacramento Kings to finish last in the Pacific Division are getting a little less dumb. . . .

I admire NHL play-by-play announcers who can properly identify players during the rapid-fire action. It was tough enough when the league had six teams, let alone 26. . . .

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Yory Boy Campas’ bout against Ray Collins on Monday at the Forum will be the 65th of Campas’ career. At the same age, 24 years and 7 months, Julio Cesar Chavez, who will make his 100th appearance when he fights Oscar De La Hoya, had only 45 fights. . . .

If you want to attend the Final Four this year at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., be prepared to pay outrageous prices to ticket scalpers. Capacity is 20,039, far less than last year at the Kingdome in Seattle. . . .

The losing pitcher for Oklahoma against USC last Friday was Joe Victery. . . .

I wonder how long it will take Mike Keenan to bench Wayne Gretzky.