Sharp Cat Might Be Eyeing Derby in Grade I Oaks

There isn’t much drama surrounding the $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks, one of two Grade I stakes being run this afternoon at Santa Anita.

Sharp Cat, the 1-5 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, should win for the seventh time in 10 starts and collect her fifth graded-stakes victory. Only four other 3-year-old fillies will oppose her in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks and she soundly defeated three of them in last month’s Las Virgenes Stakes.

The only suspense will come after the race and in the days ahead with the inevitable talk about her running in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Apparently, Prince Ahmed bin Salman is keen on the idea and, of course, the move wouldn’t be unprecedented for Sharp Cat’s trainer, Wayne Lukas.

Lukas won the 1988 Santa Anita Derby with Winning Colors, and all she did a month later was hold off Forty Niner to win the Kentucky Derby.

Lukas, who purchased Sharp Cat for $900,000 a year ago at the Barretts Sale in Pomona, thinks his filly stacks up with the colts.

“I think the pure handicappers would agree that Sharp Cat’s figures measure up with the best colts in America,” Lukas said. “She’s not big and robust, but if we were to run her against colts, she’s got the style, temperament and stride to hold her own.

“She would have a legitimate chance to get the job done. Our program has done it before successfully, so I’m sure we could do it again--if need be.”

With Boston Harbor and Mud Route sidelined, it seems almost certain that Sharp Cat will be a starter in the local Derby, provided she does what is expected today and comes out of the race in good shape.

There is one positive for High Heeled Hope, Double Park, Queen Of Money and Demon Acquire, Sharp Cat’s challengers today: The last time Tufts opened a horse at 1-5 on the morning line was Cigar in the Pacific Classic last summer at Del Mar, and everybody knows what happened that day. Dare And Go ended Cigar’s win streak at 16 with an $81.20 upset.

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Jewel Princess, unquestionably the top older filly or mare in the country, is the 4-5 favorite against six rivals in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap, which will be run immediately after the Oaks.

After carrying 123 pounds to victory in the Santa Maria in her 1996 debut, the 5-year-old Key To The Mint mare was given 125 for the Santa Margarita, an assignment that didn’t please trainer Wally Dollase.

He thought she should pick up only one pound after the victory and there was a brief thought given to shipping her to Arkansas for the $150,000 Razorback Handicap a week from today at Oaklawn Park. That race--against males--would have served as a prep for the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at that track on April 11.

However, she remains in California and will be looking to win for the fourth time in five tries at the Santa Margarita distance of 1 1/8 miles.

“She’s learned to relax more as she’s gotten older and she’s more professional,” Dollase said. “She’s pampered to death and she’s a very happy horse.”

Belle’s Flag, the 2-1 second choice who has won two stakes at the meeting and six of her eight starts overall, has impressed Dollase, so much so that her ability is one of the reasons he is going to breed Alygria, a filly he had to retire recently because of a broken knee, to her sire.

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Pacificbounty took advantage of an early speed duel to win the Golden Gate Derby nearly two months ago at Golden Gate Fields and he benefited from another fast pace in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Bay Meadows.

While heavily favored and previously unbeaten Wild Wonder and Carmen’s Baby slugged it out through some fast fractions (22 2/5, 45 2/5 and 1:09 4/5 for six furlongs), the 3-year-old son of Pirate’s Bounty lagged off the pace, then came and got them late.

Pacificbounty, ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Walter Greenman, won in 1:41 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles and it was the third consecutive victory for the late-running colt.

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Victimized by a wide trip when tried around two turns for the first time Feb. 13, Lavender had a gorgeous journey Saturday when returned to sprinting and scored a mild $11 upset in the $106,350 La Habra Stakes.

Ridden by Alex Solis for trainer Ben Cecil, Lavender sat well off the fast early fractions set by 5-2 favorite Granja Realeza, swung to the outside entering the stretch and went on to beat 3-1 second choice Wealthy by two lengths in 1:13 3/5 for the about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. Granja Realeza faded to third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Wealthy.

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Beaten by a neck by Lassigny when they last met in the Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Feb. 15, Flag Down returned the favor Saturday in the $300,000 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Jose Santos for owner Allen Paulson and trainer Christophe Clement, the 5-2 second choice in the field of six got up to beat Lassigny, the 2-1 favorite, by a neck in 2:27 for the 1 3/8 miles on turf.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Matt Garcia escaped injury when Semi Maar, his mount in the sixth race, clipped heels and fell in the stretch. Making his first start since Dec. 16, 1995, Semi Maar also apparently was uninjured. . . . Lavender’s victory was worth $66,350 to her owner, the estate of Robert E. Hibbert.