If Happyanunoit’s Victory Sounds Like Child’s Play, It Is

Although the $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap turned out the way trainer Bobby Frankel hoped it would, he still did some second-guessing after the Grade I race was over.

“With Astra finishing off the board, Spanish Fern might have been second,” Frankel said, referring to the mare he had scratched from the race earlier in the day.

Certainly Spanish Fern, who might run in the New York Handicap at Belmont Park later this month, wouldn’t have beaten stablemate Happyanunoit, who dominated her four remaining Beverly Hills opponents for her first victory of 2000.

Happyanunoit, second in her previous two races after ending 1999 with two victories, tracked the slow early pace set by Astra--her conqueror in last month’s Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap--snuck through along the rail to take the lead down the backstretch, then drew away late to win by three lengths in 1:59 1/5 for the 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Happyanunoit, the even-money favorite ridden by Brice Blanc, won for the eighth time in 15 races and the $150,000 for the Beverly Hills victory pushed her earnings to $1,199,656. Sweet Life, an 8-1 longshot, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Polaire.

Astra, the 6-5 second choice, lost for only the second time in eight races. She crossed the wire fourth, but was disqualified for alleged interference with Country Garden in the final sixteenth of a mile and was placed last by the stewards.

In providing Frankel, surprisingly, with his first victory in the Beverly Hills, Happyanunoit had a large contingent in the winner’s circle and they serenaded her with a couple of choruses of the children’s song after which she is named.

Among those witnessing the victory were Paul Moroney, a bloodstock agent who originally purchased the mare in New Zealand before selling to John Amerman, and his 5-year-old daughter Melissa.

Melissa appears to be good luck for Happyanunoit, who has won all four races she has seen in person.

“She’s a great mare,” said Frankel. “Astra’s a good filly. I don’t know what happened to her today. But, this mare showed her dominance today. Maybe she’s coming into that cycle she got into at this time last year. She’s a great mare to train.”

Said Blanc, who has been the jockey for four of Happyanunoit’s five wins in the U.S.: She was really relaxed in the post parade today and Bobby did a great job to get her ready for this race. She showed she’s on the way back up to the top and I think she’s going to get better still.

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Big Ten, one of two horses trainer Richard Mandella is expected to run in Sunday’s $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup, had a six-furlong workout in 1:11 3/5 Sunday morning at Hollywood Park.

Big Ten, the winner of the Californian last month, Out Of Mind, the Mervyn LeRoy winner, will be Mandella’s hopes to win the Gold Cup for the third time in five years. He won with Siphon in 1996 and with Gentlemen the next year.

Others expected to run the Grade I race are Cat Thief, Chester House, David, Early Pioneer, probable favorite General Challenge and Pleasant Breeze.

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In addition to the Gold Cup, Sunday’s card will include the $300,000 Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap and the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap. Both races are at seven furlongs.

Big Jag is expected to start under highweight of 122 pounds and the Grade II race could have a full field. Among those who could run are Highland Gold, Lexicon, Cliquot and Your Halo.

Honest Lady is the probable favorite in the A Gleam and her possible opponents include Theresa’s Tizzy, Hookedonthefeelin, Abby Girl and Seth’s Choice.

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Captain Steve, winless since the Hollywood Futurity more than six months ago, will run in the $250,000 Iowa Derby today at Prairie Meadows.

Captain Steve, owned by Mike Pegram and trained by Bob Baffert, will have seven opponents in the 1 1/16-mile race. He was eighth in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Preakness and has earned over $1 million.

Other Iowa Derby runners are expected to be Kombat Kat, Bet On Red and Del Mar Danny, a $20,000 claim late last year who has won six of 11.

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Trippi remained unbeaten in five starts around one turn by easily winning the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont Park.

Trippi, trained by Todd Pletcher for Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable, took the lead shortly after the start under jockey Jerry Bailey and was never in danger. In the 3-year-old’s first race against older horses, Trippi paid $3.90 as the 9-10 choice and completed the seven furlongs in 1:21 3/5.

“It doesn’t look like he’s going that fast sometimes, but he’s got a tremendous amount of speed,” said Pletcher. “He’s got a fast gear and maintains it for a while.” Cornish Slow, the longest shot in the field of six at 30-1, was second, a length in front of Sailor’s Warning. Then came Brutally Frank, the 17-10 second choice, Fire King and Wouldn’t We All.

Earlier on the card at Belmont, 1-10 favorite Raging Fever rolled to a 11 1/4-length win over three 2-year-old fillies in the $103,500 Astoria Stakes.

Raging Fever, who has won both of her races for owner Edward Evans and trainer Mark Hennig, completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04 1/5 under jockey John Velasquez.

Hennig said Raging Rever will probably make her next start in the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes July 26--opening day at Saratoga.

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Dark Moondancer and San Juan Capistrano winner Sunshine Street were among six horses entered for Tuesday’s $150,000 American Handicap at Hollywood Park.

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Jockey Corey Nakatani had three winners at Hollywood Park--Denamax in the second, Midday Fun in the eighth and impressive first-time starter Candace In Paris in the ninth.