Cavonnier Was the Winner, But Alyrob Is Best

Five days after, some random thoughts on the Santa Anita Derby:

For some reason, Cavonnier received a lot of publicity in the days before the Derby. He proved doubters wrong, taking advantage of a good trip behind a speed jam, and kicked away nicely in the stretch like a 3-year-old who will be able to handle 1 1/4 miles in a little more than three weeks.

If nothing else, his presence in Kentucky--perhaps along with stablemate Semoran--will make for some lively material from trainer Bob Baffert.

But Alyrob is the best horse to have competed in the Derby and will show why in the coming months. After being away for more than two months and having undergone an operation for an entrapped epiglottis, he finished well after a troubled trip, and who knows what would have happened had his rider elected to stay outside. If he makes the field, he will be very tough at Churchill Downs.

Dream on, Part I: Did someone actually say that Corker could have won had he not been bothered in the incident that led to Alyrob’s disqualification from second to last? With clear sailing, the half-brother to Strodes Creek would have been third, which is exactly where he was placed after the disqualification.

Dream on, Part II: Matty G is still going to the Kentucky Derby. It has become obvious that the son of Capote is a one-dimensional speed horse who has to have everything his way to succeed. That’s what happened in the Hollywood Futurity. If you take that race out of his past performances, there’s not much. Even if he does avoid his usual bobble or stumble at the start and is sent to the lead May 4, he’ll have plenty of company on the front end.

Prince Of Thieves gets another chance only because he reportedly bled when finishing sixth, but there is still the nagging doubt about his previous effort in the San Felipe. Sure, he had trouble at the break, but shouldn’t he have made more of a late run than he did when winding up fourth?

Honour And Glory has about as much chance of handling 1 1/4 miles as the Florida Marlins do of unseating the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

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Santa Anita will hold its first Players’ Championship handicapping tournament this Friday through Sunday.

Each handicapper will begin with a $400 bankroll of their own money, and a minimum of five bets (win or place) must be placed each day--either on races at Santa Anita or simulcasts. Each bet must be a minimum of $50 and maximum of $100.

On Sunday, the third and final day, the minimum is the same, but there are no maximums. Players keep their accumulated bankroll and there is a $100 entry fee.

First prize is $25,000, second is $5,000, third $2,500, fourth $1,000, fifth through 10th $500 and 11th through 20th $250. There are also $1,000 awards for the top female player, top player between 20-29 and the top out-of-state player.

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Jockey Richard Culberson, 51, scored his first victory at Santa Anita since 1978 when he won the first race with longshot Theresa Eileen on Wednesday.

Culberson, unable to hit the board with his previous 10 mounts at the meeting, and Theresa Eileen defeated Excellent Half and Octativo Vergara to win the two-furlong race by a neck.

A first-time starter trained by John Cortez, Theresa Eileen paid $69.80.

Culberson’s last victory at Santa Anita came on Oct. 6, 1978 during the Oak Tree meeting when he won a maiden race with Smile On Me. His last victory during the winter-spring meeting was on Chance Dancer in the San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 8, 1978.

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Making her first start since finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint more than six months ago, Track Gal overcame a slow start to beat 19-1 shot Our Summer Bid by a nose in the $66,075 Time To Leave Handicap on Wednesday.

Trained by John Sadler for owners William Oldknow and Robert Phipps and ridden by Chris McCarron, Track Gal broke last, moved up while wide to join the leaders, then won a three-horse battle to the wire. Third-place finisher Miss L Attack was a half-length back in third.

The 1-2 favorite, the 5-year-old Track Barron mare now has eight victories in 12 starts and is three for four at Santa Anita. She ran the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5.

Horse Racing Notes

Post time Friday--and April 19, the final Friday of the meeting--is 3 p.m. . . . At 3:15 p.m., the $500,000 Apple Blossom, featuring Serena’s Song and Twice The Vice--will be simulcast from Oaklawn Park. . . . Afternoon Deelites will make his first start since finishing sixth in the Santa Anita Handicap on Sunday in the $200,000 Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. . . . With Corey Nakatani suspended, Robby Albarado, the leading rider at Oaklawn Park, has picked up the mount on Pugnacious for Saturday’s $500,000 Arkansas Derby. The race will also include Halo Sunshine, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, and Grindstone. . . . Chris McCarron had three winners Wednesday. In addition to Track Gal, he scored with Petit Poucet and Frosty Lady Who, who was moved up to first after Garden Romance was disqualified. Petit Poucet, who won in his first start since the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 26, ran the fastest mile of the meeting on turf (1:35). He is trained by Ben Cecil for owner Gary Tanaka.