Behrens Ready to Make a Run for Elusive Win

If any horse is due a big win at Saratoga, it’s Behrens.

One of six who will run in today’s $750,000 Whitney Handicap, the 6-year-old is winless in three tries at the track, but two of the losses were extremely tough defeats.

A year ago, Behrens missed by a nose to Victory Gallop in the Whitney in what was arguably the most thrilling race of 1999. In 1997, Behrens, the son of Pleasant Colony, was beaten by a nose by Deputy Commander in the Travers Stakes.

With Jerry Bailey back on for the first time since they teamed to finish a well-beaten fifth behind Silver Charm in the 1998 Dubai World Cup, Behrens, who has earned $4,359,000 for owners William Clifton and Rudlein Stable and trainer James Bond, will try to make his final race at Saratoga a success.

If he’s going to win, Behrens is going to have to outrun Lemon Drop Kid, who handled him on July 4 in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park and has won four of his last five for trainer Scotty Schulhofer, and Golden Missile, who has won the Pimlico Special and Stephen Foster Handicap in his last two starts.

Trained by Joe Orseno for owner Frank Stronach, Golden Missile was third in his only other race at Saratoga--the 1999 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap--while Lemon Drop Kid, who is owned by Jeanne Vance and Laddy Dance, hasn’t been worse than third in his four races there. He broke his maiden at Saratoga in 1998 and won the Travers last year.

Completing the field for the Whitney, which concludes the National Thoroughbred Racing Assn.’s Champions on Fox series, are David, who was third in last month’s Hollywood Gold Cup, Running Stag and Cat Thief, who is winless in his last eight since his stunning victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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It will be an upset if jockey Chris McCarron wins another $250,000 San Diego Handicap today, a race he has dominated for several years.

Should Prime Timber, 10-1 on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, stage an upset in the Grade III race, it will be McCarron’s fourth consecutive victory in the San Diego and his seventh in eight years.

The horse favored to win is River Keen, who is the 9-5 choice as he tries to give trainer Bob Baffert his first win in the San Diego.

Second behind Mazel Trick in last year’s race, River Keen should improve off his third-place finish in the Bel Air Handicap last month at Hollywood Park, his first start of 2000. Baffert, who leads the local standings and is searching for a fourth consecutive Del Mar training title, will also be represented by 6-1 shot National Saint.

Hal’s Pal, Skimming, the 5-2 second choice, Forty One Carats and Casey Griffin are others who will run after Musical Gambler was scratched Saturday morning.

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Graeme Hall, one of only two horses in the field with a previous start at Saratoga, won the $400,000 Jim Dandy Stakes Saturday.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Eugene and Laura Melynk, the 5-1 shot tracked the pace set by Albert The Great, took the lead approaching the stretch and went on to beat Curule and five others in 1:48 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey, the 3-year-old son of Dehere collected his fourth win in 11 starts.

Trainer Bobby Frankel has arguably the top older filly or mare turf runner in the country in Happyanunoit and might also have one of the nation’s best 3-year-old fillies on the surface.

Uncharted Haven won for the second time in as many U.S. starts, rallying from last after a slow start to win the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap by a length Saturday at Del Mar.

Owned by Audrey and Charles Kenis’ 3 Plus U Stable, the English-bred filly, who was ridden by Alex Solis, collared pacesetter Automated nearing the wire and completed the mile in 1:35. She paid $15 after winning for the third time in six career races.

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The Jim Dandy was the first of two significant races for 3-year-olds this weekend. A field of nine is set for the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap today at Monmouth Park.

Captain Steve, who is coming back rather quickly after winning the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park two weeks ago, is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile race. Other top contenders include Milwaukee Brew, Dixie Union, More Than Ready, the 5-2 favorite, and Thistyranthasclass.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Danny Sorenson, who was involved in a controversial disqualification Thursday, was handed a three-day suspension by the stewards for the incident, which led to the disqualification of easy winner Mr. Freckles. The suspension will begin Monday. . . . Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. will also serve a three-day suspension, beginning Wednesday, after being disqualified from first and placed second on American Spirit in Friday’s seventh race. . . . Funeral services for owner-breeder Fred W. Hooper, who died Friday at 102, will be held Tuesday in Bal Harbour, Fla. . . . A $6-million showdown between French-trained Montjeu and Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai Millennium was scrapped Saturday when the Sheikh’s 3-year-old colt broke a leg and was forced to retire, the Associated Press reported.