Frankel Wins Santa Ana Again

The last two times trainer Bobby Frankel won the Santa Ana Handicap, the heroines were Possibly Perfect and Wandesta.

Both went on to win an Eclipse award as the nation’s top female turf runner, and the trend could continue for Frankel this year.

See You Soon gave Frankel his fourth victory in the Santa Ana at Santa Anita on Saturday, easily beating Blending Element and four others in 1:49 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

See You Soon, the 9-10 favorite, was taken to the outside by jockey Kent Desormeaux to begin her rally, then took charge in the final furlong and won by a little more than two lengths.

It was the sixth win in 15 starts for See You Soon, but things will get tougher in her probable start in the Santa Barbara Handicap on April 17. Fiji, the reigning female turf champion, is expected to make her 1999 debut in the 1 1/4-mile race.

“She’s run two powerful races this year,” Frankel said. “[See You Soon] has turned out to be a very good mare. I can’t put her in the class with Ryafan, Possibly Perfect or Wandesta right now, but she’s coming along.

“We’ll see at the end of the year. If she wins an Eclipse, maybe we can compare her with them.”

Blending Element, the 6-1 fourth choice, was a neck in front of La Madame, then came Kitza, Call Me and 3-1 second choice Vyatka.

*

Kessem Power will try to defend his title in the $250,000 San Luis Rey Stakes today at Santa Anita.

Kessem Power was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Mike Mitchell for owner Robert Baron as a 5-year-old in 1997, and has earned more than $400,000 for his current connections.

With Gary Stevens away in Dubai, Mick Kinane will ride Kessem Power, who has won five of 12 races over the Santa Anita turf course and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Lazy Lode, who won the Hollywood Turf Cup at the San Luis Rey distance of 1 1/2 miles last Dec. 12, is the 5-2 second choice. He should improve off his third in last month’s San Luis Obispo Handicap, which was won by Kessem Power.

Completing the field are the Al and Sandee Kirkwood-owned entry of Fragrant Mix and Plicck, Alvo Certo, Single Empire, Dushyantor and Percutant. Floriselli was scratched Saturday morning.

*

In addition to riding Kessem Power, Kinane is part of the European team in the second International Jockey Challenge, a four-race series earlier on the card.

Kinane will be joined by Olivier Peslier, Cash Asmussen and Kieren Fallon; Team USA will have Julie Krone, Alex Solis, Russell Baze and Kent Desormeaux.

*

Jockey Laffit Pincay hopes things go better during his second day at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans than they did Saturday.

Pincay finished last aboard 7-10 favorite Enjoy The Moment in the $129,300 Victoria Lass Handicap. Enjoy The Moment, who had won the Las Flores Handicap last month at Santa Anita, couldn’t make the lead in the Victoria Lass, a race won by 33-1 shot Steal A Heart.

“That’s not her race,” said Pincay. “I had no horse down the stretch at all. It’s disappointing because she is such a good filly.”

Today, Pincay will ride Young At Heart in the $175,000 Pelleteri Breeders’ Cup Handicap at the Fair Grounds.

Horse Racing Notes

Former jockey Pat Valenzuela, who was charged with robbing a cab driver of $150 at gunpoint, was released from jail Friday after his family posted $40,000 bail. . . . Etabauer, the 3-1 second choice, won the $125,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., beating 8-5 favorite Desert Demon and nine others in 1:44 for the 1 1/16 miles. Etabauer, ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Steve Wren, has won three of five races. . . . Apremont is favored to make a successful stakes debut in the $150,000 Gotham Stakes today at Aqueduct. Apremont broke his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths against heavily favored Treasure Hunt, then came back to beat, among others, the highly regarded Foresty by five lengths in a rapid 1:21 2/5 for the seven furlongs. He also ran a half-mile in 43 4/5, which according to Daily Racing Form, is the fastest fraction for a seven-furlong race at Santa Anita since 1992. Chris McCarron will again ride Apremont, who will break from the rail in the one-mile race. . . . See You Soon’s victory was worth $90,000, pushing her career earnings to $516,830. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover for today of $164,095.79.