Top Filly Windsharp Chases an Improbable Victory Again

Windsharp became only the second female winner of the San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 19.

About a month later, the 5-year-old mare became the first female winner of the San Luis Rey Stakes.

And on Sunday, Windsharp will tread again where few fillies and mares have gone, in the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. The last female to win the Capistrano was La Zanzara, in 1975, and the only distaff winner before her was Miss Grillo, in 1949.

The Capistrano distance of about 1 3/4 miles on grass will be the longest Windsharp has run since her arrival from France last fall, but trainer Wally Dollase is not concerned. “She’s got tremendous stamina,” Dollase said.

Only one horse out of the San Luis Rey, Special Price, is back for another crack at Windsharp. Special Price was second, beaten by a head, by Red Bishop in last year’s Capistrano, then survived a near-fatal illness and ran fifth in the San Luis Rey, the first outing in eighth months for the 7-year-old gelding. Special Price would have done better in the San Luis Rey with a cleaner race.

Windsharp’s most serious recent rival, Wandesta, is returning to her own division, running in today’s Santa Barbara Handicap, a Grade II race. Windsharp beat Wandesta by three-quarters of a length in the San Luis Obispo, then nipped her by a neck, at equal weights, in the San Luis Rey.

Dollase nominated Windsharp for the Santa Barbara, but opted for Sunday’s race because it’s a Grade I. And this probably won’t be the last time that Wandesta tackles colts. Dollase’s goal is the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf, which will be run at Woodbine in Toronto on Oct. 26.

Windsharp would have been the high weight for the San Juan Capistrano, but because of a five-pound sex allowance, she will carry 116 pounds, which is four less than Awad, who is winless in five starts since winning last year’s Arlington Million. Here is the Capistrano field, in post-position order, with jockeys and weights:

Windsharp, Eddie Delahoussaye, 116 pounds; Awad, Chris McCarron, 120; Beau Temps, Brice Blanc, 110; Awesome Thought, Kent Desormeaux, 114; Auvergne, Matt Garcia, 108; Raintrap, Alex Solis, 115; Special Price, Gary Stevens, 119; and Malmo, Chris Antley, 111.

*

Dollase has an interest in another stake Sunday, even though he’s not running a horse in the $175,000 Lexington at Keeneland.

The 1 1/16-mile Lexington is the last prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 4, and the size of the Derby field will determine whether Dollase’s Alyrob qualifies. At least two or three Derby horses might come out of the Lexington, which would squeeze Alyrob.

Second in the Santa Anita Derby before the stewards disqualified him for interference in the stretch and dropped him to last place, Alyrob doesn’t have any earnings in graded stakes, which is the first criterion in limiting the field to 20 starters.

Roar, winner of the Jim Beam at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., could give trainer Shug McGaughey a Derby horse if he runs well at Keeneland. Roar is on a three-race winning streak, but the first two victories were in sprints at Gulfstream Park.

“We wanted to try him one more time around two turns before deciding about the Derby,” McGaughey said.

Prince Of Thieves, who drew the inside post position in an 11-horse field, will be running on Lasix after bleeding from the lungs while finishing sixth in the Santa Anita Derby. Pat Day will ride Prince Of Thieves for the first time. Mike Smith will ride Roar on Sunday, but McGaughey will need a different jockey if the colt goes on, because Smith is committed to the Derby favorite, Unbridled’s Song.

Others running in the Lexington are Afleetaffair, Budroyale, City By Night, Commanders Palace, Foolish Pole, Javeriano, Victor Cooley, Saratoga Dandy and Curious Court.

*

The Shug McGaughey-trained My Flag, who has been third and first in two starts since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in October, is an even-money favorite today at Keeneland in the $500,000 Ashland, which is a prep for the Kentucky Oaks, the stake for 3-year-old fillies that’s run at Churchill Downs the day before the Derby.

Next on the morning line in the five-horse field is the 8-5 Cara Rafaela, who has been second twice behind Antespend at Santa Anita this winter. My Flag will be running against Cara Rafaela for the first time since she beat her by half a length in the Breeders’ Cup. The others in the field are Coragil, Dyna Whirl and Mackie.

*

Gary Jones has Hall of Fame credentials, but the rules will have to be changed or he will have to come out of retirement to be considered for enshrinement.

Jones, who will saddle his last horse at Santa Anita on Monday, was an assistant to his father, Farrell Jones, before horses began running in his name in 1975. One of the Hall of Fame rules reads: “Trainers shall have been active as licensed trainers for 25 years [not counting years as assistant trainers] to be eligible.”

Jones appears to be four years short of the requirement. Wayne Lukas, whose Hall of Fame credentials are overwhelming, has been kept off the ballot because of the 25-year rule.

Lukas left quarter horse racing to train thoroughbreds full time in 1978, but he was winning thoroughbred races long before then. Records of Lukas’ early thoroughbred involvement are sketchy, and short of more accurate documentation, he will have to wait several more years before he is eligible.

*

Horse Racing Notes

When Laffit Pincay rides the longshot E C’s Dream in the Kentucky Derby, it will mark his 20th appearance in the race. Only Bill Shoemaker, who won with four of 26 mounts, and Eddie Arcaro, who won five times on 21 horses, are ahead of Pincay in Derby appearances. Pincay scored his only Derby victory with Swale in 1984. He has finished second four times. The closest active jockeys to Pincay in Derbies ridden are Pat Day and Jorge Velasquez, with 13 apiece. . . . After running sixth in the Blue Grass, Semoran is out of the Derby.

Thundering Storm, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, is the 3-1 favorite in today’s $150,000 Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, but he’s more likely to run in the Preakness than the Kentucky Derby. . . . David Donk, who trains Awad, won Friday’s $109,600 Forerunner on the grass at Keeneland with Rough Opening. Awad and Rough Opening are owned by Jim Ryan’s Ryehill Farm. . . . Joy Scott’s eight victories this season at Santa Anita are the most by a female jockey since Robyn Smith won five there in 1976.