Meeting Is Filled With Bests

What a memorable season it has been at Meditrust--er, Santa Anita--Park.

Laffit Pincay, who is trying to catch Bill Shoemaker and become the world’s winningest jockey, turned 50, and John Longden, whom Shoemaker passed long ago to become No. 1, turned 90. Both were honored by the track.

Isitingood set a world record for a mile on turf, only to have it broken four weeks later by Atticus. Those who scoffed at the records, saying both were simply products of a lightning-fast grass course, were left quiet when Atticus and Isitingood ran 1-2 in the recent Oaklawn Handicap on dirt.

A little over eight months after leading every step of the way in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Siphon repeated the feat in the Santa Anita Handicap, ending the five-race winning streak of Gentlemen.

Free House proved his victory in the San Felipe Stakes was no fluke when he beat Silver Charm again in an exciting Santa Anita Derby. Both have a legitimate shot to win the Kentucky Derby.

Here are one man’s choices for the bests of the 60th Santa Anita meeting that ends Monday:

* Older Horse, Horse of the Meeting: Siphon. He won his comeback race against allowance rivals in game style, then stepped up and beat a large field in the Big ‘Cap. He is as genuine as they come, which is something that couldn’t be said about some other recent winners of the Santa Anita Handicap.

* Older Filly or Mare: Jewel Princess. Breeders’ Cup winners Storm Song, Boston Harbor and Alphabet Soup were beaten in their 1997 debuts, but that wasn’t true of the ’96 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner. Returning after a four-month layoff, the Key To The Mint mare blew away her opponents in the Santa Maria, then--although she had to work much harder--showed her class in winning the Santa Margarita.

* Claimer: Zanie Reality. Taken for $8,000 by owners Team Green and trainer Barry Abrams, the 4-year-old gelding won four times at the meeting and was second twice. His most recent victory came against $40,000 claimers and he and jockey Matt Garcia were a good combination.

* Grass Filly or Mare: To be determined. With the Santa Barbara Handicap to be run Saturday, we’ll leave this category blank. But if Windsharp does what she’s supposed to do, she’ll be the winner for a second consecutive year.

* Grass Horse: Labeeb or Marlin. There was no easier winner this meeting than Labeeb in the El Rincon 12 days ago. Labeeb is unbeaten in four American starts. However, if Marlin follows his San Luis Rey victory with another in Sunday’s San Juan Capistrano, he deserves the honor.

* 3-Year-Old: Free House. Many thought it was certain that Silver Charm would turn the tables on the son of Smokester in the Santa Anita Derby after losing to him in the San Felipe. Although Silver Charm ran a huge race in defeat in the Derby, he didn’t get revenge.

* 3-Year-Old Filly: Sharp Cat. She toyed with basically the same outclassed fillies in her victories in the Santa Ysabel, Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks. Running against males in the Derby was a different story, but this expensive ($900,000) yearling purchase was easily the best of her sex.

* Sprinter: Northern Afleet. The selection in this category was easy last year when Lit De Justice was around, but no sprinter has stood out at this meeting. Northern Afleet gets the nod because he was the most consistent. He proved his versatility by winning the seven-furlong San Carlos and the nine-furlong San Fernando.

* Trainer: Bob Baffert. For the second time in three years, he will win the training title--this time running away with it. He has done the job with all types of horses.

* Jockey: Alex Solis. The most consistent rider on the local circuit last year, he has picked up right where he left off. He has been on the top of the standings virtually the entire meeting and, with five days left, has seven stakes victories.

* Achievement: Trainer Richard Mandella’s 1-2-3 finish in the Santa Anita Handicap. Winning the race is hard enough, but the Mandella not only did that for the first time with Siphon, he also completed the trifecta with Sandpit and Gentlemen.

* Race: Santa Anita Derby. From start to finish, it was fun to watch as Silver Charm hooked up with Sharp Cat right out of the gate, then he battled back after being passed by Free House, only to lose in a photo at the wire.