Matiara Dies After Pulling Up in the Beverly D

The $500,000 Beverly D on Saturday at Arlington had a great ending for the race favorite and a tragic conclusion for California’s best hope for another victory in the Grade I.

Owned by the Aga Khan and trained by John Oxx, Timarida unleashed a powerful stretch run to beat Perfect Arc by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:54 for the 1 3/16 miles on turf at the track outside Chicago.

Fresh off an impressive victory in the Ramona Handicap at Del Mar three weeks earlier, Matiara was pulled up on the backside by jockey Corey Nakatani and was reported to be lame in the left hind leg.

In an interview on ESPN, track veterinarian Robert Gowen said the injury didn’t appear to be life-threatening, but another statement was released by Arlington Park later in the afternoon.

“Matiara died in the ambulance as it arrived at the barn,” the statement from Gowen read. “She died from a major internal hemorrhage, possibly the result of a pelvic fracture.

“However, we won’t know for sure until a complete autopsy is performed. She is being prepared to be sent to the University of Illinois’ veterinary school for the autopsy.”

Trained by Richard Mandella for owner Alec Head, Matiara finished her career with six wins from 16 starts and earnings of $852,926.

Successful in eight of 12 lifetime before Saturday, Timarida was ninth for the first half-mile, then found room to rally under jockey John Murtaugh and went on to win comfortably as the 8-5 favorite. She was coupled in the betting with Khalisa, who finished fourth.

“She’s a little rank in her races, so I tried to keep her in a nice spot,” Murtaugh said. “When the gap opened, she was ready to take it, you could say she was well on the bridle.”

Perfect Arc, who set all the pace, finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Alpride, who was ridden by Chris McCarron. In the process, the 5-year-old mare duplicated her finish in the 1995 Beverly D.

Auriette had the best finish of the other California shippers. She checked in sixth under Kent Desormeaux, Olimpia Dukakis was ninth and Flagbird was eased when her saddle slipped.

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Beaten by a neck by Louis Quatorze in the Jim Dandy 20 days earlier when carrying 10 pounds, Will’s Way turned the tables at level weights in the $750,000 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in New York.

A lightly raced son of Easy Goer who was on the lead in the Jim Dandy, Will’s Way was taken off the pace Saturday and he responded, winning by three-quarters of a length in a pedestrian 2:02 2/5 for the 1 1/4 miles.

Skip Away, the 7-5 favorite, was given a less-than-sensational ride by Jose Santos and wound up third, beaten by nearly two lengths. Going for his third victory in the last six years in the Travers, Wayne Lukas didn’t fare well. Belmont Stakes winner Editor’s Note was fourth and Dr. Caton was eased when hopelessly beaten.

Trained by James Bond for owners William Clifton and Rudlein Stable, Will’s Way now has four victories in six lifetime starts. He was ridden by Jorge Chavez and paid $16.60.

“He’s just getting better all the time,” Bond said. “The biggest reason we’re here is because we have very, very patient owners. The good guys finished first today.

“He pulled a muscle when he was third in the Flamingo [on April 6] and I told the owners, ‘We won’t make the Kentucky Derby, but I’ll make the summer Derby [the Travers] for you and we’ll get it.’ It took about 10 days after the Flamingo to get his rear end straightened out. Dr. Jim Pendergast and an acupuncturist worked on him.”

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Four days after her male counterpart remained unbeaten in the Best Pal Stakes, Starry Ice will try to stay perfect against nine opponents in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante today.

Swiss Yodeler ran his record to 5-0 on Wednesday and Starry Ice, a 2-year-old daughter of Ice Age, will be looking for her fifth victory in the Grade II. She is the 2-1 choice on the morning line.

Trained by Jerry Dutton, who also owns the filly in partnership with Harold Greene, the California-bred hasn’t run since winning the Landaluce on July 6 at Hollywood Park. She drew away through the stretch that day to win by 5 1/2 lengths, but the final quarter of the race was negotiated in 26 seconds.

She has trained well over this track--including a 57 4/5 work on Aug. 18--and with Eddie Delahoussaye in New Jersey to ride Eltish in the Iselin at Monmouth Park, Alex Solis takes over on Starry Ice.

Broad Dynamite, an impressive maiden winner on opening day here, is the 3-1 second choice. Owned by Joe Kowal and trained by Lonnie Arterburn, the daughter of Broad Brush ran five furlongs in 56 4/5 on July 24, beating Desert Digger, who came back to capture the Sorrento Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths.

Since her victory, Broad Dynamite worked a bullet seven furlongs in 1:25 and that’s the distance of the Debutante.

The rest of the field includes Desert Digger, who drew the rail and will race coupled with Merry Krisoke; Montecito, who, along with Sharp Cat, will be trying to give Lukas his ninth victory in this event; Kamali; One More Angel and Queen Of Money.

Horse Racing Notes

Sandpit heads a field of nine in today’s Arlington Million. Among his rivals are defending champion Awad, Torch Rouge, Valanour and Mecke. The Million will be simulcast at Del Mar along with the Secretariat Stakes from Arlington, the Saratoga Cup and the Iselin from Monmouth Park. . . . Real Connection won for the first time in 13 1996 starts, beating favored Tabled With Saros in the final strides in the $104,900 Osunitas Handicap Saturday at Del Mar. Giving jockey Goncalino Almeida only his second victory of the meeting, the 5-year-old gray mare paid $24.80 for owner Bill Thomas and trainer Mel Stute. She ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42 3/5. . . . Jockey Gary Stevens, who underwent shoulder surgery in June, will return to action in New York on Friday. He will ride one of two 2-year-old fillies Wayne Lukas will start in the $200,000 Spinaway, then, on Saturday, he will be aboard one of two 2-year-old colts Lukas will run in the $200,000 Hopeful. Stevens, who began working horses Tuesday in preparation for his comeback, is also confirmed aboard Prince Of Thieves in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 2 at Philadelphia Park. At the conclusion of the Del Mar meeting on Sept. 11, Stevens will ride at Belmont Park for a couple of weeks until the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita begins Oct. 2.