Long Layoff Is No Problem for Cavonnier in Ack Ack

What once seemed impossible became reality Sunday at Santa Anita.

Cavonnier, whose career looked to be over after he injured a tendon in the 1996 Belmont Stakes, made a successful return, winning the $81,225 Ack Ack Stakes.

In his first appearance in Arcadia since he won the 1996 Santa Anita Derby, the 5-year-old gelding rallied late to beat 5-1 shot Sidon and three others in 1:35 3/5 for the mile.

Given plenty of time to recuperate by owners Robert and Barbara Walter and after experimental treatments for the injured tendon in his right foreleg, Cavonnier came back to trainer Bob Baffert’s barn last summer and was scheduled to make his first start in the Cal Cup Classic on Halloween.

However, a setback postponed those plans, and Cavonnier, who lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose to Grindstone in one of the most thrilling finishes in the race’s storied history, didn’t return until Sunday.

For all concerned--the Walters, Baffert and jockey Chris McCarron--this was something worth the wait.

“This is where he won the Santa Anita Derby and it just means so much to have him come back and win here,” Barbara Walter said. “I reached over there and felt [McCarron’s] heart and it was pounding away. I was going to say to him, ‘Here, feel mine,’ but I decided I better not. I don’t think Mr. Walter would have liked that.

“He knows how to accelerate quickly when he needs to. Thank God he hasn’t lost it. He hasn’t lost a thing.”

Whether Cavonnier is as good as ever remains to be seen because he did not beat a quality field in the Ack Ack, but it does not detract from the accomplishment.

“It’s amazing that a horse like this can come back after 2 1/2 years off and run as well as he did,” Baffert said. “When they have the class like this horse, anything is possible.

“It’s a shame that we missed [the Cal Cup] because he was training so well for that race. It makes us feel pretty good and you’ve got to remember all the people behind the scenes who work so hard. It’s all of the people whose names never get mentioned and do so much of the work and I just take all of the credit.”

The victory was the fourth in seven starts at Santa Anita for Cavonnier, who has seven in 17 lifetime. The $52,935 payday pushed his earnings to $1,192,332.

“He hit the ground very well and he was strong all the way,” said McCarron, who has been aboard for four of the gelding’s wins. “It’s hard to imagine something like this, being back on this horse in a winning race. I had dreams that I would be, but I didn’t know if it would come to fruition or not.

“I always had my hopes up, but you never really know until they get back here. When I started breezing him a couple of months ago, I grew more confident as I went along. I suppose it has happened, but I can’t remember riding a horse that’s come back and won after being away 2 1/2 years.”

There was more to Baffert’s day than Cavonnier’s stirring comeback.

America’s leading trainer also made off with his seventh Grade I victory of 1998 when favored Magical Allure survived a stewards’ inquiry to win the $200,000 La Brea Stakes.

Owned by John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, Magical Allure won for the seventh time in eight career starts, defeating 14-1 shot Gourmet Girl by a half-length in 1:22 for the seven furlongs.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, the 3-year-old General Meeting filly and 9-10 favorite stalked the pace from the outside, got the lead in midstretch and held on for its second graded stakes victory.

Magical Allure drifted in a bit after getting the lead, prompting the inquiry, but no change was made. Brulay, the 2-1 second choice, was forced to steady when things tightened somewhat, but she was a beaten filly after battling with longshot Holy Nola through 22 4/5 and 44 4/5 fractions.

“She got a little tired there at the end, but they were cooking early,” Baffert said. “This is such a good filly, she’s tough and she’s mean. When you get around her, you have to watch it.

“She’s pointed for the rest of the La Canada series [the next race in the series is the $150,000 El Encino Stakes on Jan. 17], but we’ll play it by ear.”

Manistique, another 3-year-old filly who has lost only once, is headed for the El Encino and the $200,000 La Canada Stakes on Feb. 7.

“Manistique’s a very good filly, but she’s been winning at Hollywood Park,” Baffert said. “She’s never [run] here. [Magical Allure] is fast, but she and Manistique kind of have the same style, so you never know. It’s hard to say. You just have to worry about having your own filly ready.”

Gourmet Girl finished a little more than a length in front of 4-1 third choice Tranquility Lake, then came Holy Nola, Brulay, La Madame and Goldenflag.

Horse Racing Notes

Silver Charm, who is scheduled to make his 1999 debut in the $200,000 San Pasqual Handicap on Jan. 10, worked seven furlongs in 1:23 2/5 Sunday morning at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. Winner of the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in his last start on Nov. 27, Silver Charm could, after the San Pasqual, come back in the $500,000 Donn Handicap on Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park. . . . Baffert won a third race Sunday when favored Stalwart Tsu won the ninth under jockey David Flores. . . . The first four finishers in Saturday’s Malibu Stakes--Run Man Run, Artax, Event Of The Year and Mail Coach--are scheduled to return in the $300,000 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Jan. 16. . . . Fragrant Mix, who will be making his U.S. debut for owners Al and Saundra Kirkwood and trainer Ron McAnally, is the 9-5 favorite in today’s feature, the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.