Sahadi’s Just Java Could Awaken Big ‘Cap

Serena’s Song won’t be the only female presence in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday.

There was much discussion before trainer Wayne Lukas decided Tuesday that Serena’s Song would take on the boys in the Big ‘Cap--the race has never been won by a female--but Jenine Sahadi made up her mind quickly about Just Java.

As soon as she learned that Cigar wasn’t coming to California, she decided to run the 5-year-old, and will become only the second woman to saddle a horse in Santa Anita’s most famous race.

Obviously, she hopes to fare better than Mary Lou Tuck did with Go West Young Man in 1979. A multiple-stakes winner, Go West Young Man finished eighth that day.

A son of Java Gold, Just Java will be a longshot. In recent years, however, the Santa Anita Handicap hasn’t been kind to favorites. Only twice in the last seven years has the people’s choice won. Among the surprises have been a $103.60 victory by Martial Law in 1989, a $47.80 upset by Ruhlmann a year later, and 11-1 and 15-1 victories by Sir Beaufort and Stuka in 1993 and 1994.

“I got more interested when I heard Cigar wasn’t running,” Sahadi said. “It’s a million-dollar race, I don’t have to ship anywhere and he’s training really well here. Aside from all that, I just love the way he won [a $50,000 allowance race Jan. 28].

That was his first start in America in more than 14 months and only his second on a dirt track. In his only other try, he was second to College Town in the Lazaro Barrera Handicap on Nov. 19, 1994, at Hollywood Park. Among those behind him that day was Alphabet Soup, who will be one of the favorites Saturday.

It would appear that the dirt is what Just Java has wanted all along. He has only one victory in 22 starts on turf.

The Big ‘Cap will mark his first try at 1 1/4 miles, but he does have Santa Anita’s leading rider, Corey Nakatani.

“He’s a very classy animal,” Sahadi said. “A lot of people think I’m nuts, but Corey has a lot of confidence in this horse.

“I’ll find out whether or not he can go a mile and a quarter. I think the race should set up well for him because it looks like there will be quite a bit of [early] pace. He’s training super [seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 last Friday].”

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Ted West has taken over the training of Big ‘Cap probable Luthier Fever, replacing Gary Jones. West won with his only other Big ‘Cap starter, Interco, in 1984.

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The Big ‘Cap Handicap is one of four stakes races Santa Anita will offer Saturday and Sahadi will be involved in three of them. Besides Just Java, she will send out Lit De Justice in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap and Dirca in the $125,000 Buena Vista Handicap.