Del Mar Winner a Horse of Letters

All Alphabet Soup needed was a little vacation.

Sent to owner Georgia Ridder’s farm for some rest and relaxation after being beaten by 25 lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, the 5-year-old roan son of Cozzene came back to the races in style Saturday.

In what was supposed to be another showcase for Lit De Justice, Alphabet Soup stole the spotlight, easily winning the $105,450 Pat O’Brien Handicap.

This was the fourth win in five starts at Del Mar for the 5-1 third choice and his second victory in three tries at seven furlongs.

With Chris Antley riding to trainer Dave Hofmans’ instructions, Alphabet Soup sat well off the fast splits set by Boundless Moment and G Malleah, then got the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile and drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:20 3/5.

Making his graded stakes debut, Boundless Moment bravely saved the place by a nose over Lit De Justice, the 4-5 favorite who was trying to win the O’Brien for the second year in a row.

Coming back 20 days after his big win in the Bing Crosby Handicap, Lit De Justice might have returned too soon, trainer Jenine Sahadi said in hindsight, and she said the 6-year-old definitely won’t run again until the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Oct. 26 at Woodbine.

Successful in the Native Diver, San Pasqual and San Antonio in the latter part of 1995 and early this year, Alphabet Soup won’t be waiting quite so long for his next start. Hofmans plans on bringing him back to defend his title in the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Sept. 8.

“He ran so hard [earlier in the year] that we just decided to give him some time off,” said Hofmans. “I wanted him placed just the way he was. I told Chris to warm him up, get him on his toes and I wanted him to break running and laying right behind [Boundless Moment and G Malleah].

“I thought the way the track was playing today [for come-from-behinders], all of us were going to be in trouble [against Lit De Justice]. I told Chris, ‘You’re going to have to have three lengths on this horse at the sixteenth pole to beat him,’ and he finally listened to me.”

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Returning to the surface where she has lost only once in six tries, Antespend is the 9-5 favorite against seven other 3-year-old fillies in today’s $250,000 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

The beaten choice in the Hollywood Oaks on the main track, Antespend has trained well since shipping here. She worked seven furlongs in 1:24 on Aug. 9, six days after going six furlongs in 1:12.

True Flare, who was successful in her American debut over this course in the San Clemente Handicap on July 27, is the 2-1 second choice. Owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bobby Frankel, the Capote filly has eight wins and two seconds in 12 starts.

The rest of the field includes San Clemente runner-up Gastronomical; Lasha, who was troubled nearing the wire in that same race; Paranomelody, who is also trained by Frankel and is making her first start in this country; Boncozy; Chile Chatte, who won her initial start of this year over this grass course the second day of the meeting, and Hilary.

Five races earlier, Larry The Legend will make his second start on the comeback trail, taking on four others in the $70,000 Harry Brubaker Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Second in his sprint return behind Isitingood three weeks ago, the 1995 Santa Anita Derby winner is the even-money choice against Myceenote, Powerful Punch, Chequer, who is unbeaten in two starts on the main track, and Misnomer.

Horse Racing Notes

Yanks Music, the 6-1 fourth choice, tracked a slow pace early, then took command in the final furlong to win the $250,000 Alabama by four lengths Saturday at Saratoga. Escena was second, half a length ahead of 4-5 choice My Flag. Listening, ridden by Chris McCarron for trainer Ron McAnally, finished fourth after starting slowly.