Valdivia Steers Big Jag to Victory

The $1-million Santa Anita Handicap isn’t the only race to look forward to on March 6 at Santa Anita.

If everything goes according to plan, Kona Gold and Big Jag will have a rubber match that day in the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap.

After finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Kona Gold in the El Conejo Handicap four weeks earlier, Big Jag turned the tables on the 3-10 favorite Saturday in a thrilling Palos Verdes Handicap.

A 6-year-old California-bred gelding owned by Julius Zolezzi and trained by Tim Pinfield, Big Jag got up under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. to beat Kona Gold and Alex Solis by a head in 1:08 for the six furlongs.

This was the sixth win in the last seven starts for the 3-1 second choice and provided Pinfield with his first graded stakes victory. The Palos Verdes is a Grade II and carries a $200,000 purse.

“He’s got a heart as big as he is,” Pinfield said of the winner, who stands 17 hands. “Jose gave him a cracking ride, and to beat [Kona Gold] really takes some doing.”

Kona Gold, who has won half of his eight starts, was hardly disgraced in defeat. He finished eight lengths clear of third-place finisher Swiss Yodeler after setting 21 2/5, 43 4/5 and 55 4/5 fractions.

*

Unbeaten in two starts for owners John and Betty Mabee and trainer Bob Baffert, General Challenge is the 8-5 favorite in today’s $100,000 Santa Catalina Stakes, one of the preps for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

A California-bred son of General Meeting, General Challenge will be trying two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile race and will be ridden by Gary Stevens.

Norfolk Stakes winner Buck Trout is the 5-2 second choice and the rest of the field includes Mr. Broad Blade, Charismatic, Light Fingered, Brilliantly and Brave Gun. Bright Valour was scratched because of swelling in his right foreleg.

Horse Racing Notes

Kirkwall, the 5-2 second choice, rallied in the stretch to beat Kraal, part of a three-horse entry trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, and win the $75,000-added Tanforan Handicap at Bay Meadows. A 5-year-old son of Selkirk, Kirkwall paid $7 and ran the 1 1/16 miles on a yielding turf course in 1:46 2/5. Brice Blanc rode the winner for trainer Bobby Frankel and owner Juddmonte Farms.