Canani Has His Day in the Sun

Trainer Julio Canani had a big day in both halves of the state.

After winning with his two starters at Hollywood Park, Canani watched on television while Ladies Din ended a 10-race losing streak in the $300,000 San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Owned by Terry Lanni and Bernie Schiappa, the 5-year-old Din’s Dancer gelding and 2-1 favorite outdistanced 5-2 second choice Fighting Falcon to win in 1:33 1/5.

Fifth in a Grade III stakes in Dubai a month earlier, Ladies Din, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, provided Canani with his second consecutive win in the race and his fourth overall. The trainer won last year with Tuzla and had previous victories with Colway Rally and Patchy Groundfog.

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Coming to the wire of the $200,000 Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct, it was clear a Jerkens was going to be the winning trainer.

When the Grade III race was official, son Jimmy had knocked off father Allen when Lager, a 29-1 longshot, beat Best Of Luck, the 5-1 second choice, by a nose to win in 1:49 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

The loss wasn’t the worse news for the elder Jerkens. Best Of Luck was taken off the track in a van after the race because of an injured left foreleg.

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Horse Racing Notes

Hugh Hefner is the 7-2 favorite in today’s $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the richest event in Hollywood Park’s inaugural California Gold Rush. A total of $1.26 million in purses will be distributed during the 10 races restricted to California-breds, and there will be a $1 million guaranteed Pick Six pool. The Pick Six will be offered on races 5-10.