Big ‘Cap May Lose Big Matchup

Not long after Silver Charm and Gentlemen scored strong wins on the same day earlier this month, Santa Anita officials were salivating about the likelihood that the two of them would hook up in the Santa Anita Handicap. But since then an attempt by track management to boost the Big ‘Cap purse has fallen through, and now there are no guarantees that either Silver Charm or Gentlemen will show up on March 7.

What’s a $1-million race to do? Silver Charm, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year and winner of the Strub this season, worked a half-mile Monday in 48 seconds, and afterward his trainer, Bob Baffert, said there are several options, including the Big ‘Cap, the $300,000 New Orleans Handicap on March 8 and the $4-million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

Gentlemen, who returned to action this year with a win in the San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 7, worked a half-mile Monday in :47 2/5 at Hollywood Park. Last week, R.D. Hubbard, the chairman of Hollywood Park and owner of Gentlemen, said that the plan was to run in both the Big ‘Cap and Dubai, but his trainer, Richard Mandella, has expressed concern about the racing surface in the United Arab Emirates, and there are also other considerations: Gentlemen is a poor shipper and a bleeder who would be unable to run with Lasix because of Dubai’s medication regulations.

“It looks like we’ll run in the Big ‘Cap,” Baffert said, “but right now I’m not planning anything. These horses are not machines, and we’ve got time to figure out what we’re going to do. As for Dubai, the door has opened a little bit.”

Silver Charm races for Bob and Beverly Lewis. Bob Lewis said Monday that Baffert would decide the 4-year-old colt’s schedule.

“Right now,” Lewis said, “I’d say that it’s 20% positive and 80% negative on Dubai.”

Santa Anita had hoped to increase the Big ‘Cap purse and lure Skip Away from Florida, but the Thoroughbred Owners of California exercised their option and killed the plan. It’s unlikely that Skip Away, runner-up to Favorite Trick for 1997 horse of the year, would have come, anyway.

“It’s not about money,” trainer Sonny Hine said last week. “I want to do what’s best for the horse.”

Skip Away’s next race is expected to be the $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap on Feb. 28.

There’s not a long list of possibles for the Santa Anita Handicap. Malek and Refinado Tom, also trained by Mandella, could run, along with Funontherun and Hal’s Pal. Lord Grillo, who beat Silver Charm in the Malibu on Dec. 26, has been sidelined indefinitely because of a virus.

Horse Racing Notes

Bienvenido, a troubled second against Prize Giving in the San Marcos Handicap a month ago, turned the tables Monday, winning the $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap under a front-running ride from Chris McCarron. Prize Giving finished second, beaten by four lengths. . . . Post A Note, who ran for a $20,000 claiming price in October, was a wire-to-wire winner of the $100,000 Golden State Mile over a sloppy track at Bay Meadows. His undefeated stablemate, Moonlight Meeting, was a reluctant loader, dropping jockey Corey Nakatani behind the gate, and finished third. Another unbeaten 3-year-old, Dixie Dot Com, finished fourth as the 4-5 favorite. . . . Neil Drysdale, who trains Prize Giving, saddled Gold Land earlier in the day for a narrow win over Red in the $75,505 Reb’s Policy Handicap. . . . The injury report: From Sunday’s Las Virgenes, Career Collection, a knee injury, out indefinitely; Vivid Angel, rear leg, retired; and Boundless Beauty, hind leg, indefinite.