Academyawardwinner Is Getting His Act Together

A winner of one of his first four starts at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, Academyawardwinner seems to have found a home here.

The prototype of a late-running sprinter, the 3-year-old son of Bolger made it two wins in three tries at the meeting, coming from well off the fast early pace to beat favored Future Quest by four lengths in Thursday’s $70,850 Inverness Drive.

Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, the 5-2 second choice completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 3/5 for owners Bud and Betty Johnston and John and Marge Stonebraker and trainer Don Warren.

After winning a soft allowance race by 5 1/2 lengths on Aug. 4, Academyawardwinner was beaten by a neck by Argonnier in the Real Good Deal 10 days later.

“This colt’s getting better with every race,” Delahoussaye said. “He could be an up-and-coming star.”

Successful in a maiden race and the Del Mar Futurity last year, Future Quest, the 11-10 choice, finished a head in front of Go Bux, the longest shot in the field at 55-1. Afleetaffair, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Harry Henson at Hollywood Park on June 1, was fourth.

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Gary Stevens will ride today for the first time since he had shoulder surgery in June. He is on Private Pursuit in the $200,000 Spinaway for trainer Wayne Lukas at Saratoga.

Horse Racing Notes

Jane Canani, 50, a former trainer and the former wife of former trainer Julio Canani, died Wednesday night of what appeared to be a heart attack while jogging near her home in Huntington Beach. She is survived by her son Nick and a daughter Lisa. Services are scheduled Tuesday in Orange County. . . . Jockey Pat Valenzuela is planning to appeal the five-day suspension he was handed Thursday for an incident in Wednesday’s seventh race. Valenzuela was disqualified on Steel Ruhlr for crossing over without sufficient clearance shortly after the start. . . . Corey Nakatani and teammates Kellie Cerin and Marla Zanelli won the title at the third annual All Star Jockey team-penning competition this week. The event was held to benefit the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund.