It’s Getting to Be Habit for Sahadi

In the eyes of many, this was a sequel that wasn’t supposed to happen.

Few were surprised last year when Lit De Justice, the lukewarm 4-1 favorite, rallied from last under jockey Corey Nakatani for trainer Jenine Sahadi and owners C.N. and Carol Ray to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Woodbine and clinch the Eclipse Award as the nation’s champion sprinter.

Most were surprised when Elmhurst duplicated his former stablemate’s effort Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Elmhurst, a 7-year-old gelding, was last among 14 down the backside after some wicked splits over a fast track. He received a perfect ride from Nakatani and rallied to win by half a length and pay $35.20.

In completing the six furlongs in a Breeders’ Cup record 1:08, the son of Wild Again who came to America as a 5-year-old maiden in 1995 made Sahadi the first trainer to win the Sprint twice and might have earned himself an Eclipse.

Before last month, Elmhurst had never run at six furlongs, but he won the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita on Oct. 11. The Ancient Title-Breeders’ Cup Sprint parlay was enough to win Cardmania an Eclipse in 1993.

Elmhurst has done well at Hollywood Park. The victory Saturday was his third in nine tries on the Inglewood surface. Five months earlier, he set a track record there for 7 1/2 furlongs.

The biggest victory of his career couldn’t have set up any better. Hesabull, who showed surprising early speed, first put away Track Gal through 21 2/5- and 43 4/5-second fractions, repelled a challenge from Exotic Wood through a 55 3/5-second five furlongs, then was overhauled before the wire. He saved the place by a neck over Bet On Sunshine, who was a length in front of Exotic Wood.

“The fast fractions certainly helped us,” said Sahadi, who owns part of the gelding with the Rays. “This one is special because I worked at Hollywood Park for so long [in the press box] and all my friends are here. I’m grateful to everybody who works for me, and my blacksmith and my veterinarian. I couldn’t do it without them. They deserve all the credit. I’m really proud of everyone involved.”

Following in the footsteps of other Eastern-based sprinters who have been beaten badly in the Breeders’ Cup, Richter Scale, the 3-1 second choice, beat only Royal Applause.

“It’s a major disappointment,” said Pat Byrne, Richter Scale’s trainer. “He warmed up super. [Jockey] Shane [Sellers] said that he felt weak behind; nothing serious.”

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PAST WINNERS

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Year Horse Jockey Margin Payoff 1984 Eillo C. Perret Nose $4.60 1985 Precisionist C. McCarron 3/4 length $8.80 1986 Smile J. Vasquez 1 1/2 lengths $24.00 1987 Very Subtle P. Valenzuela 4 lengths $34.80 1988 Gulch A. Cordero 3/4 length $13.60 1989 Dancing Spree A. Cordero Neck $35.20 1990 Safely Kept C. Perret Neck $26.40 1991 Sheikh Albadou P. Eddery 3 lengths $54.60 1992 Thirty Slews E. Delahoussaye Neck $39.40 1993 Cardmania E. Delahoussaye Neck $12.60 1994 Cherokee Run M. Smith Head $7.60 1995 Desert Stormer K. Desormeaux Neck $31.00 1996 Lit de Justice C. Nakatani 1 1/4 lengths $10.00 1997 Elmhurst C. Nakatani 1/2 length $35.20

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