Nakatani Breaks On Through to Winning Side at Santa Anita

Jockey Corey Nakatani picked the right spot to end a personal drought in the early portion of Santa Anita’s winter meeting.

Winless with his first 23 mounts, Nakatani--who was sidelined three days because of a minor leg injury--got his first victory aboard 4-1 shot Desert Lady in the $108,500 Monrovia Handicap on Saturday.

Trained by Nakatani’s father-in-law Wally Dollase for Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp., Desert Lady overcame some early trouble to beat Sweet Mazarine, the longest shot in the field of seven at 32-1, by a length in 1:14 2/5 for the about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

In a race that had perhaps the slowest opening fraction (23 2/5) in the history of Santa Anita’s unique downhill course, the 4-year-old daughter of Danehill came wide on the turn, got the lead in midstretch and went on to win for the third time in 10 starts.

“She’s very special,” Dollase said of the winner, who was third--beaten a neck--in her U.S. debut on Nov. 27. “She’s quick and smart and really a nice filly. Even though she’s built very powerfully [along the lines of a sprinter] I believe she can get a mile. That’s something to try down the road. This filly is going to be tough between seven furlongs and a mile.”

Morgan J., the 8-5 favorite primarily because she appeared to have the controlling speed of the Monrovia, finished last after bobbling under jockey Chris McCarron when crossing from turf to dirt.

Nakatani, who hurt his leg when working Desert Lady recently, had an eventful beginning.

“When she broke, she broke so hard that her back end dropped out from underneath me,” Nakatani said. “She was almost stuck in the gate, but she overcame it and ran a good race. She has a lot of quality and I know Wally has been really high on her.”

Sweet Mazarine, who was coming off a victory in an optional claiming race at Hollywood Park, finished a head in front of Supercilious, then came Desert Drama, Plus, Statua and Morgan J.

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Beaten by only two lengths when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs, Kona Gold is the 8-5 favorite to win his first stakes race when he takes on seven opponents in the $100,000 El Conejo Handicap today at Santa Anita.

Owned by a partnership of Andrea and Irwin Molasky and trainer Bruce Headley, Kona Gold was very impressive in three victories at Del Mar, winning by a combined 28 1/2 lengths, then had a troubled trip in his stakes debut in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita on Oct. 17.

Kona Gold, a 5-year-old son of Java Gold, finished fifth, beaten a little more than two lengths as the 13-10 favorite.

Alex Solis will again be aboard Kona Gold in the El Conejo, which goes at 5 1/2 furlongs, and his main competition figures to come from 5-2 second choice Big Jag.

A 6-year-old gelding trained by Tim Pinfield for owner Julius Zolezzi, Big Jag has won five in a row, including stakes wins in the California Sprint Championship at Bay Meadows, the Cal Cup Sprint at Oak Tree and the On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park. Jose Valdivia will again ride the son of Kleven, who has won seven of 14 lifetime.

“[Big Jag] certainly knows what his job is,” Pinfield said. “The proof is, whenever a horse comes at him, he finds another gear. He certainly knows where the finish line is. Just watch him when he crosses the wire, that’s it. He’ll let everyone pass him. He doesn’t care. He won the race, his job is done and that’s it.”

Others in the field, from the rail out, are Cold N Calculating, Ex Marks The Cop, Swiss Yodeler, Majorbigtimesheet, Mr. Doubledown and Driggs Retreat.

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Gulfstream Park begins its 63-day meeting today and, thanks to a new state law, Californians can bet on the full card from the Florida track, along with the races from Aqueduct in New York.

There are 11 races on the opening program, including the $100,000 Appleton Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Among those in the field are Unite’s Big Red, who won the recent Tropical Park Handicap, Donthelumbertrader, who has four wins and four seconds in nine tries on the Gulfstream Park turf, N B Forrest, who will be ridden by Jerry Bailey, who will be going for his fourth consecutive riding title at the track, and Missionary.

Also on the card today is the $75,000 Spectacular Bid, a six-furlong race for newly turned 3-year-olds and the first prep race for the Florida Derby on March 13.

Erlton, who has won five of his six races around one turn, is the probable favorite. Other contenders include Texas Glitter, Kimberlite Pipe and Lifeisawhirl.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Matt Garcia will begin a three-day suspension Wednesday after being cited for failing to maintain a proper course while riding Northern Truce in the first race on New Year’s Day. . . . Forestry, a $1.5-million yearling purchase by trainer Bob Baffert for owner Aaron Jones, was second as the 3-5 favorite in his career debut Saturday. Impressive Grades, a first-time starter for trainer Howard Zucker ridden by Corey Black, won the race in 1:09 3/5 and paid $101.40. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover today at Santa Anita of $154,376.