Short Names and Long Odds Equal Upsets

The two stakes run Saturday at Santa Anita were preps for bigger races down the road--the San Miguel Stakes for the Santa Anita Derby on April 4 and the San Pasqual Handicap for the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

But don’t look for either of Saturday’s winners to repeat in the main events later in the meeting.

Rio Oro, a 16-1 shot who had been running in Arizona, went wire to wire in defeating eight 3-year-old rivals in the $110,300 San Miguel, then Hal’s Pal, a 7-1 outsider, led most of the way to win the $200,000 San Pasqual.

Over an extremely fast track which dramatically favored horses with early speed, Rio Oro broke like a shot under Dario Lozoya and kept right on going to win by three lengths in 1:08 3/5 for the six furlongs.

It was the eighth victory in 10 starts for the gelded son of Oraibi and his fourth in a row for owner Larry Wells and trainer Debi Ferguson.

“When I realized this was one of the steps toward the Triple Crown, I just said, ‘Whoa, this is scary,’ ” said Ferguson, obviously unaware that no San Miguel winner has ever gone on to win the Santa Anita Derby, let alone a Triple Crown race. “It’s kind of overwhelming, but it’s wonderful.

“I think we’ll go with him as far as he takes us. We would like to stretch him out because that’s where we feel he will shine. He’s just an honest horse. He gives you everything he’s got.”

Lozoya, who rode Rio Oro for the first time in the gelding’s previous victory on Dec. 21 at Turf Paradise, picked up his first win in Southern California since 1986. He rode here as an apprentice from 1984 until early in ’86.

“He ran big,” said Lozoya. “He proved himself today. I’ve never questioned his ability, it was just a matter of whether or not he could sustain his speed.”

Iron Cat, the 7-2 second choice, was the runner-up, half a length in front of 21-1 shot Cat Doctor, who beat 9-10 favorite Commitisize by half a length.

Favored on the strength of his victory in the Hollywood Prevue in November and a 1:10 3/5 work on Dec. 29, Commitisize didn’t break very well and didn’t seem to care for the track.

“He didn’t like it at all,” jockey David Flores said. “I had to get him out in the clear on the backside and he was OK for a little while. But down the stretch he was having a real hard time getting hold of the track.”

In the San Pasqual, Hal’s Pal took the lead immediately, surrendered it briefly to Awesome Daze, then kicked away in the final furlong to win by three lengths in 1:41 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

This was the fifth victory in six starts on dirt for the 5-year-old Caerleon gelding, who is trained by Ben Cecil for owner Waific Said. He has won two of four since coming here from England.

Obviously, Hal’s Pal prefers the dirt to turf, but what he doesn’t like is the whip, so jockey Brice Blanc didn’t carry one Saturday and anybody else who rides the gelding in the future won’t either, according to Cecil.

“I thought he had a heck of a shot going in, even though I didn’t wear a suit,” Cecil said. “He actually won quite easily. It would be nice to get him to the Santa Anita Handicap. We’ll have to see what to do between now and then.

“When he came here, he was very light. He’s really filled out. He must have put on 300 pounds. I think he gives his all without [a whip] and he gets a bit angry if you [hit him].”

Malek, the 3-1 second choice, was second, a length ahead of 22-1 shot Flick. Invitato Mio, the 3-1 favorite, finished fifth and Awesome Daze, who entered with successive victories in the Cal Cup Classic and On Trust Handicap, was sixth.

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An 11-length winner of the Hollywood Starlet last month, Love Lock is the 3-5 morning line favorite and the price could be even shorter by post time for the $100,000-added Santa Ysabel Stakes today at Santa Anita.

Trained by Wayne Lukas for owner Michael Tabor, the 3-year-old gray daughter of Silver Ghost has rebounded with two consecutive wins since a dismal performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in which she was beaten by nearly 21 lengths by Countess Diana.

Before her easy victory over heavily favored Career Collection in the Starlet, Love Lock won the Golden Rod, a Grade III race, at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29.

Kent Desormeaux will be aboard the favorite, who will be aiming for her fifth victory in 10 starts in what is a prep for the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes, a Grade I that will be run Feb. 15. Lukas won the Santa Ysabel with Sharp Cat in 1997 and has won the race three times in all.

Eastside Westside, who has lost four in a row since a 12-length maiden victory at Del Mar on Sept. 4, is the 2-1 second choice. She was seven lengths behind Love Lock in the Golden Rod.

Rounding out the field of six are Hope Island, an improving daughter of Air Forbes Won who has won her last two for trainer Tom Bell, Nonies Dancer Ali, who has won two of three in Northern California, and longshots Mamaison Miss and Continental Lea.

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Full House’s comeback has been put on hold, meaning the 1997 Santa Anita Derby winner will miss the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Feb. 7.

“He was a little stiff the other day,” trainer Paco Gonzalez said. “We [scanned] him and there is nothing wrong with him. We were thinking about giving him some more time off with the bad weather anyway. We’ll probably bring him back for the summer.”

Horse Racing Notes

There is a two-day carryover in the Pick Six for today of $286,581.42. . . . There was only one ticket with five winners Saturday and it was worth $153,914 and was purchased at Hollywood Park. . . . Jockey Corey Nakatani had two winners Saturday as did trainer Bob Baffert. . . . Jockey Corey Black turns 29 today. . . . Lord Grillo, who upset Silver Charm in the opening-day Malibu Stakes, worked seven furlongs in 1:27 3/5 on Friday morning prepping for the $300,000 San Fernando Stakes on Saturday. Other probable starters for the mile race are Silver Charm, Anet, Wild Rush, Mud Route and Kukulcan.