Another Nice Win for ‘Din

Returning to Arcadia, Ladies Din picked up where he left off at Del Mar.

After sweeping a division of the Oceanside Stakes, the La Jolla Handicap and the Del Mar Derby, the 3-year-old gelded son of Din’s Dancer toyed with favored Dr Fong and five other rivals in the $250,000 Oak Tree Derby on Sunday.

Ridden with confidence by jockey Gary Stevens, the 3-2 second choice was reserved off the slow early pace, began his rally around the turn and won by a little more than a length in 1:50 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Owned by Terry Lanni, Mike Sloan and Bernie Schiappa, and trained by Julio Canani, Ladies Din has seven victories in 12 starts on turf and has won three times in five tries on the Santa Anita turf course.

The even-money favorite, on the strength of five victories in eight starts in Europe, Dr Fong finished a half-length in front of Bouccaneer, then came Takarian, Master Carson, Expressionist and Porto Foricos.

“I really thank God that [Ladies Din] doesn’t know how to read the [Daily Racing] Form because if he saw that Dr Fong was right there with the horse [Desert Prince] who’s going to be the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, he might have been intimidated,” said Canani. “This is one of the most amazing horses I have ever trained. He does everything so easy because his stride is so long.

“He’s still a kid. He ducks in, he ducks out; he doesn’t even know what he’s doing yet. He’s got a lot of room to grow. We’ll run next in the Hollywood Derby [Nov. 29] and then put him away until next summer.”

Back aboard after missing the Del Mar Derby because of knee surgery, Stevens was impressed.

“That was a pretty awesome performance today,” he said. “The acceleration he has for a horse of his size, it’s just unbelievable. His stride and looks are very, very comparable to Royal Anthem, who I ride [in the Breeders’ Cup Turf].”

According to trainer Neil Drysdale, Dr Fong, who had last started Sept. 26 in England, will take another shot at Ladies Din in the Hollywood Derby.

“It looked to me like he just got tired,” said Drysdale. “I would expect him to improve greatly off this race.”

Horse Racing Notes

Red, who finished last in the California Cup Sprint on Saturday, has been retired. A 4-year-old son of Siyah Kalem, Red finished his career with five victories in 24 starts and earnings of $469,399. . . . Funeral services for longtime trainer Willard Proctor, who died at 82 on Friday, will be held later this week in his hometown Gilmer, Texas. . . . Stevens had three victories Sunday. Besides Ladies Din, he won the first with Spinelessjellyfish and Prime Timber in the ninth.