They Aren’t Exactly Lining Up to Compete Against Sharp Cat

Fillies and mares haven’t exactly been coming out of the woodwork lately to take on Sharp Cat.

In her last two appearances--both wins--the 4-year-old daughter of Storm Cat has had to beat only a filly (A.P. Assay) and a mare (Housa Dancer) to run her record to 12 victories in 19 starts and increase her earnings to $1,462,575.

Sharp Cat beat both of them in the Bayakoa Handicap here last month, a race that came more than seven months after her walkover victory in Hollywood Park’s more lucrative version of the Bayakoa.

Sidelined for the first half of 1998 because of ankle problems, owner Prince Ahmed Salman’s filly will have only four challengers in the $300,000 Chula Vista Handicap on Sunday.

Making her second start for trainer Wally Dollase, Sharp Cat will be heavily favored. The win in the Bayakoa on July 27 left her three for three at Del Mar, including a victory in the 1996 Del Mar Debutante.

Under jockey Corey Nakatani, who has regained the mount after riding Sharp Cat earlier in her career when she was trained by Wayne Lukas, the Kentucky-bred will carry top weight of 124 pounds, which means she’ll be conceding eight or nine pounds to her opponents. Numero Uno, Passion Flower, Freeport Flight and Supercilious complete the field for the Grade II.

Wearing front bandages for the first time in last month’s Bayakoa, Sharp Cat was thought vulnerable by some because of her layoff and the presence of the speedy A.P. Assay, who was stretching out after an impressive victory in the seven-furlong A Gleam Handicap in Inglewood.

Instead, Sharp Cat went head and head with A.P. Assay through 22, 45 and 1:09 1/5 fractions, then easily put her away en route to a 5 1/2-length victory in 1:35 for the mile. Housa Dancer, who has since returned to win a minor stakes at Emerald Downs, was last, beaten by 11 1/2 lengths.

The Chula Vista is another step toward the main 1998 target, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs. Sharp Cat was second to Ajina in the ’97 Distaff at Hollywood Park.

“I can’t believe how relaxed and professional she is now,” Dollase said. “She waits for the command.”

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Unbeaten since having surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis, Coronado’s Quest will try 1 1/4 miles for the first time when he takes on Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop and others in the $750,000 Travers Stakes today at Saratoga.

Successful in the Wood Memorial, Riva Ridge, Dwyer and Haskell Invitational since finishing fifth in the Florida Derby, Coronado’s Quest will be trying for his second consecutive decision over Victory Gallop.

In the Haskell, the son of Forty Niner won by 1 1/4 lengths while Victory Gallop finished a half-length ahead of Grand Slam, who is also in the Travers field.

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Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., who cracked some ribs and broke his left collarbone in a spill July 25, is named on three horses on Sunday’s card.

Given clearance by his doctor on Wednesday to ride, Pincay, 51, worked some horses Thursday and Friday and will be aboard Sunday Stroll in the second, Fabulous Guy in the seventh and also-eligible Parkview in the ninth on Sunday.

With his next victory at Del Mar, Pincay will tie Bill Shoemaker as the all-time leader at the track with 889 wins.

Horse Racing Notes

Unbeaten in three starts, Silverbulletday is the 8-5 favorite against eight other 2-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante today. Excellent Meeting, who, like Silverbulletday, is trained by Bob Baffert, and recent maiden winner Antahkarana are the other main contenders in the Grade II. . . . Silver Charm, who has been training well after finishing last as the heavy favorite in the San Diego Handicap on July 25, is among a dozen nominees to the $200,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Sept. 6. The 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is one of five horses nominated to the race by Baffert. . . . Funeral services will be held in Vista on Tuesday afternoon for former trainer and jockey L.D. “Muzzy” Francis, 62, who died Sunday after battling cancer.