Chief Bearhart Regains Respect

A country and a jockey ended a Breeders’ Cup losing streak in the $2-million Turf on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

For the first time since Dance Smartly won the Distaff in 1991, Canada had a winner when 19-10 favorite Chief Bearhart won the watered-down marathon, beating the German filly Borgia by three-quarters of a length in a Breeders’ Cup-record 2:23 4/5 for the 1 1/2 miles.

The dry spell had been even longer for Chief Bearhart’s rider. Jose Santos, on the downside of his career, picked up his first Breeders’ Cup victory since clicking with 2-year-olds Meadow Star and Fly So Free in 1990.

Catching a field that lost Singspiel, who would have been heavily favored, to a career-ending injury Thursday, and Influent, Marlin and Rainbow Dancer before that, Chief Bearhart, the 4-year-old Chief’s Crown colt, rallied wide to win for the fifth time in his last six starts.

Owned by Ernie Samuel’s Sam-Son Farm, which also campaigned Dance Smartly, and trained by Mark Frostad, Chief Bearhart certainly bettered his Breeders’ Cup performance on his home turf at Woodbine a year ago. He finished 11th, losing by 11 lengths to Pilsudski over a good course.

Hollywood Park’s firm but bouncy layout definitely agreed with him.

“Everyone at home is going nuts,” said Tammy Samuel, Ernie’s daughter. “I think all that screaming was from Dad at home. We’re thrilled with two Breeders’ Cup winners. We still can’t believe it.

“This colt has gotten better and better all year and we’re looking forward to next year.”

Chief Bearhart should continue to improve, and he was no worse than second in his seven outings in 1997. He is four for seven at 1 1/2 miles.

Third behind runaway winner Peintre Celebre in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe early last month at Longchamp, Borgia, the 4-1 second betting choice, was half a length better than 14-1 shot Flag Down, who gained the lead in mid-stretch under Jerry Bailey.

Buck’s Boy, the longest shot in the field of 11 at 35-1, set a fast pace for the distance [24 and 47 1/5 seconds, 1:11, 1:35 1/5] and still had the lead after going 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 3/5 before weakening to fourth late, four lengths behind Flag Down.

Santos made the most of his only opportunity Saturday.

“[Frostad] has done a wonderful job with this horse,” said Santos, who also rode only one horse in last year’s Cup--Wall Street, who finished eighth in the Turf. “I’ve ridden him seven times and won five. I thank the trainer and the [Samuel] family for keeping me on him.”

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TURF

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Year Horse Jockey Margin Payoff 1984 Lashkari Y. Saint-Martin Neck $108.80 1985 Pebbles P. Eddery Neck $6.40 1986 Manila J. Santos Neck $19.60 1987 Theatrical P. Day 1/2 length $5.60 1988 Great Communicator R. Sibille 1/2 length $26.80 1989 Prized E. Delahoussaye Head $19.60 1990 In The Wings G. Stevens 1/2 length $5.80 1991 Miss Alleged E. Legrix 1/2 length $86.20 1992 Fraise P. Valenzuela Nose $30.00 1993 Kotashaan K. Desormeaux 1/2 length $5.00 1994 Tikkanen M. Smith 1 1/2 lengths $35.20 1995 Northern Spur C. McCarron Neck $9.90 1996 Pilsudski W. Swinburn 1 1/4 lengths $29.40 1997 Chief Bearheart J. Santos 3/4 length $5.80

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