Old Trieste Could Prove Doubly Tough

The last horse to win the Californian and Hollywood Gold Cup in the same year was Cutlass Reality in 1988.

Old Trieste could duplicate that feat if he runs the same way in the Gold Cup next month that he did Saturday in the $300,000 Californian.

Old Trieste, making his first start since winning the Del Mar Handicap Sept. 6, led all the way in a seven-length victory over Budroyale and five others.

In winning for the sixth time in 11 starts, Old Trieste completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 2/5 and stamped himself as the horse to beat in the Gold Cup on June 27.

“He ran out of his brains,” trainer Mike Puype said. “It was awesome.”

Old Trieste, ridden by Chris McCarron, paid 6.80 as the second choice. Budroyale finished 5 1/2 lengths ahead of 11-10 favorite Puerto Madero, who never threatened under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

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Behrens probably earned a trip to Hollywood Park for the Gold Cup with a half-length victory over 8-1 shot Running Stag in the $600,000 Massachusetts Handicap Saturday at Suffolk Downs in Boston.

Behrens, the 9-10 second choice ridden by Jorge Chavez, wore down the pacesetter, Running Stag, to win in 1:49 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Real Quiet, the 4-5 favorite under jockey Gary Stevens, was a no-excuse third, nearly four lengths behind the winner.

Behrens has won three in a row and hasn’t been worse than second in five starts this year.

Horse Racing Notes

Sir Bear, making his first start since March 20, remained unbeaten at a mile with a decisive victory in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Sir Bear, a 6-1 shot ridden by John Velasquez, beat 24-1 shot Crafty Friend by nearly two lengths in 1:34 2/5. The victory was the 15th in 44 lifetime starts for Sir Bear, who pushed his career earnings to $1,360,660. Three of those victories have come at a mile. Affirmed Success, the 7-5 favorite, was fourth in losing for the first time in five races at Belmont. Cat Thief, the 5-2 second choice, finished sixth. . . . A.P. Assay, in her first race since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall, did the expected in winning the $106,000 Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park by two lengths over 9-1 shot Woodman’s Dancer. A.P. Assay, the 3-5 favorite ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, has won all four of her races at Hollywood Park. She covered the six furlongs in 1:08 3/5.