Fame Certainly Not Fleeting for This Filly

Different story line, same result.

The first three finishers in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes were the same as they were in the El Encino Stakes three weeks earlier, but the two races were nothing alike.

Fleet Lady, who arguably was third best in the El Encino but was awarded the win after the controversial disqualification of I Ain’t Bluffing from first to third, proved superior Sunday.

Reserved off the pace by jockey Garrett Gomez, the 4-year-old Avenue Of Flags filly was blocked in the stretch for a while but room developed and she went on to beat Minister’s Melody by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:48 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

I Ain’t Bluffing, the 3-2 favorite, had to settle for third without an excuse, but the filly who had all kinds of trouble was Praviana. She was stopped when trying to rally at several different points in the Grade II race and was probably fortunate not to go down in the stretch. The Chilean-bred wound up fifth, but could have challenged for the victory with a clean journey.

Instead, Fleet Lady, who is owned by John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, won for the fourth consecutive time and she has definitely improved since being sent to Northern California-based trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

“She got through when the hole opened up and that’s when the race was won,” said Hollendorfer, who wasn’t at Santa Anita for the El Encino. “It looked like [Gomez] had a ton of horse and I was just praying that he would get through.

“The key to her improving is just maturity. She’s learning how to do things now that she didn’t know before. We also stretched her out and she seems more comfortable doing that.”

Minister’s Melody, who was moved up to second by the stewards in the El Encino, was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of I Ain’t Bluffing, who had crossed the wire first in her last four races before Sunday.

“She didn’t look too comfortable running to me,” said Ron Ellis, the trainer of I Ain’t Bluffing. “She never looked like she was full of run. Usually, she’s pulling [Eddie Delahoussaye] out of the saddle, but she just didn’t look like she was doing that.

“She wasn’t handling the track very well, I think, because she didn’t show her normal enthusiasm the first part. She was just content to track [pacesetter Love That Jazz]. She was in a great spot, but she wasn’t doing it as easily as she should have been.”

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Gentlemen, who romped to victory in the San Antonio Handicap in his 1998 debut on Saturday, and Silver Charm, who easily won the Strub Stakes, both came out of their races in good shape and are being pointed for a showdown in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

Tru Story, who was involved in an incident approaching the stretch in the Strub that led to a stewards’ inquiry involving Silver Charm and runner-up Mud Route, finished last in the race and exited a little worse for wear.

“He’s [Tru Story’s] got a small puncture [on his right foreleg],” said assistant trainer Gary Mandella. “It took one stitch. We’ll look at it for the next few days. He’s going to be fine because he was walking sound [Sunday morning]. We’ll look at it for the next few days. The only thing I could think was he hit himself after taking a bad step and a toe grab caused the puncture.”

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For the second consecutive day, trainer Bob Baffert won a stakes at Santa Anita with a gray.

Fun In Excess followed her more famous stablemate Silver Charm’s win in the Strub with a victory in the $136,700 Pro Or Con Handicap on Sunday.

Ridden by David Flores for owner Mike Pegram, the 4-year-old In Excess filly won for the fourth time in her last six start, beating 12-1 shot Walk In Time by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:35 for the mile.

“This filly has really turned out to be a surprise,” said Baffert. “We thought she would be high claiming-type horse, but she keeps knocking out these wins. She’s getting better and better.”

Fun In Excess paid $9.80 as the 7-2 third choice. Supercilious, the 5-2 favorite, finished ninth of 10.

Horse Racing Notes

There was a racing rarity Sunday at Gulfstream Park--two win dead heats and owner Joseph Graffeo and trainer Steve DiMauro were involved in both. In the second race, Graffeo and Di Mauro’s Beauty Queen, which was ridden by John Velasquez, finished on equal terms with Blue Fire, then in the fifth race their $8,000 claimer, Call Me Social, deadheated with Festive Debut. Eduardo Nunez rode Call Me Social. . . . Glitter Woman, who had won seven of 11, was beaten as the 2-5 favorite in the $100,000 Shirley Jones Handicap on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. U Can Do It, the 3-1 second choice, won by 2 1/4 lengths under Shane Sellers. . . . Tuzla, who, along with Blue Talent and Mz. Mazuma were scratched from the La Canada, will go in the Santa Maria Handicap on Saturday instead, according to trainer Julio Canani. . . . Jockey David Flores won twice Sunday, both for trainer Bob Baffert. Besides Fun In Excess, Flores and Baffert also won the seventh with favored The Mouthpiece.