Lil’s Lad Steady Under Pressure at Gulfstream

Making his first stakes appearance since finishing second to Grand Slam in the Champagne last Oct. 18, Lil’s Lad established himself as the favorite for next month’s Florida Derby with a victory in the $200,000 Fountain Of Youth Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Able to make the lead under Jerry Bailey before reaching the first turn, Lil’s Lad, the 9-10 favorite, repelled a challenge from 7-5 second choice Coronado’s Quest entering the stretch and went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. Halory Hunter was third and Cape Town, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Wayne Lukas, was last in the small field.

Trained by Neil Howard for a partnership that includes Wil Farish, Lil’s Lad, a son of Pine Bluff, now has four wins in six starts.

“I saw what I wanted,” said Howard. “It was nice to see him pressured and still hold on to win. He tries like hell. That’s what I like about him.

Coronado’s Quest, the rage of New York as a 2-year-old with five wins from six starts, is 0-for-2 as a sophomore. He had excuses--mostly because of his own antics--for his loss by a neck in the Hutcheson last month, but none Saturday, except he carried seven pounds more than the winner.

Cape Town, who entered with consecutive victories, finished 11 lengths behind Lil’s Lad.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who lost one of his 3-year-olds a week ago when Tahoe Prospector was sidelined with chips in his right front knee, saw another go on the shelf Saturday morning.

Pleasant Drive, third in the recent San Vicente and considered possible for next Sunday’s San Rafael Stakes, will be out for several months after suffering a condylar fracture in his right hind leg during a morning work.

A son of Salem Drive who had won two of four starts, Pleasant Drive completed a five-furlong drill in 1:02 2/5, walked back to the barn, then was lame.

“It will be operated on [today],” said Baffert. “He probably won’t return to the races for seven months.”

The star of Baffert’s barn, Silver Charm, worked six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 getting ready for his anticipated match with Gentlemen in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

Originally, the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was going to work only five furlongs under Dana Barnes, but Baffert decided to have him go an extra eighth of a mile.

“There was nothing in front of him and he’s lazy when that happens,” said Baffert.

Looking to end a two-race losing streak, Advancing Star is the even-money favorite against six other fillies and mares in the $125,000 Las Flores Handicap today at Santa Anita.

While she is definitely the one to beat on a fast track, the 5-year-old Soviet Star mare likely won’t participate if the track comes up wet and rain is a possibility today.

She has proven she hates moisture of any kind when she runs, but is difficult to defeat when she has the right surface. She has won eight of 20 for trainer Richard Mandella and owners John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm. She has won two of three at six furlongs, the distance of the Las Flores, and will be ridden again by Kent Desormeaux.

Madame Pandit, the 7-5 second choice, has shown she can cope with any kind of track and has finished in front of Advancing Star in their last two meetings and four of six overall.

Trained by Ron McAnally for owner Janis Whitham, Madame Pandit won the Monrovia Handicap on Jan. 3 while Advancing Star was fifth, then she was second to Exotic Wood in the Santa Monica, a length in front of Advancing Star.

Horse Racing Notes

Mother’s Meeting remained perfect in two starts with a two-length victory in the $109,400 Boo La Boo. Ridden by Gary Stevens for trainer Jack Carava and owners John and Betty Mabee, the 7-2 second choice completed the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5. Loveontheroad, the 13-10 favorite, was second. . . . Trainer Neil Drysdale picked up his second consecutive victory in the $75,000-added San Marino Handicap when favored Storm Trooper beat Verglas by a head in 2:04 1/5. . . . Jockey Victor Espinoza took off his mounts Saturday at Santa Anita after being thrown while working a horse in the morning. Robataille, who Espinoza was working for trainer Julio Canani, collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack on the far turn. Espinoza suffered minor bruises. . . . Jockey Ryan Barber is leaving California and will begin riding in Kentucky.