Silver Charm Faces Malibu Conqueror in the San Fernando

In his first two starts of 1997, Silver Charm won a seven-furlong race, the San Vicente Stakes, by nearly two lengths, then was second, losing by three-quarters of a length to Free House in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes.

His trainer, Bob Baffert, and owners, Bob and Beverly Lewis, hope things work out in reverse this year for the 3-year-old champion colt of last year. He makes his second start, after a layoff, in the $300,000 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The runner-up as the 3-10 favorite in the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, Silver Charm will try for his first victory since the Preakness last May 17 in the San Fernando, the second leg of the Strub Series that has been shortened from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/16.

Never worse than second in his 10 races, Silver Charm drew the rail for the Grade II, which, with some last-minute surprises, wound up with seven entrants. Lord Grillo, who won the Malibu, drew the outside box in the field.

“He’s coming into the race great,” Baffert said. “It looks like the same bunch of horses, basically. It’s going to be a good race again. He and Lord Grillo should hook up again at the top of the stretch.

“Lord Grillo is a good horse. I like him a lot, he ran a great race last time.”

Trainer Ron McAnally entered Mud Route and Kukulcan in the San Fernando and the three other contestants, who look overmatched, are Steel Ruhlr, Ready Eddie and Trafalger. Trafalger, fourth in the San Pasqual six days ago, also is owned by the Lewises, so he will be coupled in the betting with Silver Charm.

“The [Malibu] was a little short for Mud Route,” said McAnally, who has won the San Fernando three times. “Going [1 1/16 miles] may be more of his game now. He has to prove himself this time.

“I hope he’s coming around. He’s training well, but no matter how well they train, they have to prove themselves in the afternoon.”

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Entries were also taken Thursday morning for Saturday’s $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap, a Grade II scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Golden Arches, who won the Dahlia Handicap last month at Hollywood Park, and Luna Wells, who was fourth in the Matriarch, are the highweights at 120 pounds. The rest of the field, from the inside post out, includes Trendy Cindy, Blue Talent, Real Connection, Ecoute and Escabiosa.

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Real Quiet, who won the Hollywood Futurity in his last start, is expected to make his 3-year-old debut for Baffert in the $200,000 Golden Gate Derby on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area.

The son of Quiet American, Real Quiet worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 on Monday and has improved since blinkers were added. Others expected to run in the Derby are Allen’s Oop, Classic Cat, Clover Hunter, Early Pioneer, Mantles Star, Oly Ogy and Sydney Harbour.

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Now trained by Wally Dollase, Sharp Cat had her first workout Thursday morning since winning the first walkover in California in the Bayakoa Handicap on Dec. 7 at Hollywood Park.

The 4-year-old Storm Cat filly, who is owned by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation, went three furlongs in 36 2/5 seconds. She is expected to make her first start of 1998 in the $200,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 14.

“She went real well,” Dollase said. “We had her in 35 4/5. She finished very strong, with a lot of gusto. That’s what we wanted to see. She’s a classy filly.”

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Favorites failed in all of the Pick Six races on Thursday, so there is a two-day carryover of $253,546.47 for today.

The biggest surprises were Shot MD, who paid $43.20 after winning the fifth race, and Occhi Verdi, who was very impressive in her U.S. debut for trainer Eddie Truman. She won by daylight in the sixth in her first start on dirt and returned $49 under Alex Solis.

Shot MD, who had broken his maiden at Prairie Meadows in Iowa in his previous start last June 2, was the second longshot winner in two days for trainer Mike Harrington and jockey Brandon Simpson. They won at $30.80 on Wednesday with Satire.

Horse Racing Notes

Rainbow Blues, who won the 1996 Del Mar Derby in his U.S. debut, is scheduled to make his first start since he was pulled up early in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile last June 15 in today’s fourth race. He probably will be scratched, however, if the race is moved from turf to dirt. . . . Heptathlon, who has won four of seven races, heads a field of 13 entered in today’s $78,000-added Linda Card Handicap, scheduled for about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf. . . . Alex Solis had two winners on Thursday. Besides Occhi Verdi, he also won the seventh with 5-1 shot Fabulous Guy.