This Time, Drysdale Will Double Down

That obvious hole in trainer Neil Drysdale’s otherwise fat resume may finally be filled this year. But Drysdale, so close to running in the Kentucky Derby eight years ago, was burned then and he needs more assurance now.

“When they get in the gate, then I’ll know I’m there,” Drysdale said Sunday, not long after the $4-million yearling, Fusaichi Pegasus, made his stakes debut by winning the $250,000 San Felipe at Santa Anita.

Two weeks ago, War Chant, the other stellar 3-year-old in Drysdale’s barn, won the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, and--like Fusaichi Pegasus--he’s within one race of making the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 6.

During a 26-year career that has been punctuated by five Breeders’ Cup wins and dozens of other important stakes victories, Drysdale has occasionally been on the Triple Crown trail. None of the few passing opportunities could match 1992, when his A.P. Indy--the Santa Anita Derby winner--was scratched on the morning of the Kentucky Derby because of a bruised foot.

A.P. Indy won the Belmont Stakes, five weeks after the Derby, and won the year-end Breeders’ Cup Classic to clinch horse-of-the-year honors, but his absence at Churchill Downs is still one of those nagging what-ifs for Drysdale. A.P. Indy was 7-2, the second choice on the Derby morning line behind Arazi. The winner of the race was the longshot Lil E. Tee, who never won another major stakes race.

The similarity between Fusaichi Pegasus and A.P. Indy is not lost on the Drysdale, one of three trainers listed on the Racing Hall of Fame ballot this year. Both horses have been Japanese-owned and cost dearly at auction, with A.P. Indy selling for $2.9 million in 1990.

“Training high-priced horses doesn’t bother me,” Drysdale said. “I just hope it’s not deja vu again.”

Fusaichi Pegasus, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, paid $4.60 as the favorite in the San Felipe, running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 3/5. The seven-horse field also included The Deputy, a stakes winner at Santa Anita this winter, and Anees, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2-year-old champion. The Deputy finished second, three-quarters of a length behind, and Anees, who hadn’t run since his Breeders’ Cup win 4 1/2 months ago, was third, beaten by 3 3/4 lengths..

Fusaichi Pegasus, a son of Mr. Prospector and the Danzig mare Angel Fever, is the only horse Drysdale has ever trained for Fusao Sekiguchi, who has made his money with high-tech companies in Tokyo. When Sekiguchi bought Fusaichi Pegasus at the July Keeneland sale in 1998, Drysdale wasn’t there and not even aware that he would be getting the horse.

The San Felipe, worth $150,000 to the winner, was Fusaichi Pegasus’ third consecutive victory after losing by a neck in his first start, at Hollywood Park on Dec. 11. Fusaichi Pegasus’ time Sunday matched his clocking for his two-turn debut at Santa Anita on Feb. 19.

Commendable, who finished fourth, was the pace-setter through fractions of 23, 49 4/5 and 1:10 1/5, with Fusaichi Pegasus settling into second place, never more than two lengths back. With Commendable dropping back at the head of the stretch, Fusaichi Pegasus took over as The Deputy moved into second place, a length behind with an eighth of a mile left.

Trainer Jenine Sahadi said that plans for The Deputy are uncertain. Aneeswill run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8, according to trainer Alex Hassinger Jr. Drysdale will split up his Kentucky Derby pair, running War Chant in the Santa Anita Derby and Fusaichi Pegasus in either the Blue Grass at Keeneland or the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Both races are April 15.

Horse Racing Notes

The Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct’s prep for the Wood Memorial, was won by Red Bullet under Alex Solis, riding the Frank Stronach-owned colt for the first time. Aptitude, a son of A.P. Indy making his first start in 2 1/2 months, shipped in from Hollywood Park and finished a late-running second, beaten by a half-length. Performing Magic was third. Favored Red Bullet, trained by Joe Orseno, ran the mile in 1:34 1/5 and paid $4.10. He’s undefeated in three starts. . . . In Florida, favored Wheelaway, ridden by Richard Migliore for trainer John Kimmel, beat Impeachment by 2 1/2 lengths in the Tampa Bay Derby. Wheelaway paid $5.40.