Double Pleasure for Drysdale

There was a bonus for trainer Neil Drysdale besides collecting his first win in the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap Sunday.

In addition to winning with Single Empire, Drysdale, who is destined for the Hall of Fame, finished second with Le Paillard in the longest race of the Santa Anita meet.

Given a smart ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Single Empire, who had captured the San Luis Rey Stakes last month in his first start of the year, was kept in the clear while third most of the way. He took over on the turn, then repelled the bid of his stablemate to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:45 4/5 for the about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

Owned by Robert Sangster and Gary Tanaka, the 5-year-old son of Kris won for the fifth time in 11 starts, and coupled with Montjoy, who finished seventh, paid $5.80 as the 19-10 favorite.

“[Single Empire] had a great trip and he was much more relaxed today than last time,” Drysdale said. “In the San Luis Rey, he pulled, but today he was more switched off. [Twenty-eight days] was enough time between races.

“These marathon horses do need time between their races, though, so I don’t know when we’ll see him again. Maybe the Golden Gate Handicap [on June 19].”

Kessem Power, the 2-1 second choice who was beaten a nose by Single Empire in the San Luis Rey, finished eighth after a brutal trip as he never found room to rally along the inside under Chris McCarron.

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Trainer Bob Baffert had a less than successful Sunday afternoon in Texas.

Real Quiet, who lost his 1999 debut in Louisiana as the 1-2 favorite, was beaten at that price again, falling to 5-2 second choice Littlebitlively in the $250,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park.

Owned by Mike Pegram, the 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner moved up to the pacesetting Littlebitlively around the turn like he was going to sail right on by, but the 5-year-old son of Lively One fought back after moderate splits and won by a neck in 1:35. This was the eighth win in 26 starts for Littlebitlively, who is owned by John Franks and trained by Bobby Barnett.

Two races later, the Baffert-trained Black Mercury was fourth as the even-money favorite in the $301,650 Lone Star Derby, a race taken by 31-1 outsider T.B. Track Star. Desert Demon, the final ride of Julie Krone’s career, was second.

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The Santa Anita Derby was flattered Sunday when longshot Charismatic won the $378,700 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Trained by Wayne Lukas for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, Charismatic was a distant fourth, beaten a little more than eight lengths, by General Challenge 15 days earlier in Arcadia.

Content to sit off the pace set by 7-2 favorite Texas Glitter, the son of Summer Squall took charge under jockey Jerry Bailey from Yankee Victor in the final furlong to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:41 for the 1 1/16 miles. He paid $26.20 as the 12-1 seventh choice in the field of 12 and is scheduled to return in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

Horse Racing Notes

Desert Lady, the 11-10 favorite while coupled with Sapphire Ring, beat 13-1 shot Hula Queen by a head to win the $109,400 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita. It was the third win in four starts down the hillside turf course for the 4-year-old Danehill filly, who covered the about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13 3/5. She was ridden by Corey Nakatani for trainer Richard Mandella and owner Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation. . . . Today is closing day at Santa Anita.