Drysdale Sees Positive Sign

Even though 11-10 favorite Jokerman finished last in the $250,000 Oak Tree Derby Saturday at Santa Anita, the Grade II race had a happy ending for Neil Drysdale.

Sign Of Hope, the Hall of Fame trainer’s other entrant and 7-2 third choice in the field of five 3-year-olds, overhauled pacesetter David Copperfield in the final yards to win by a half-length in 1:47 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Ridden by Alex Solis for Harold Applebaum’s Relatively Stable, Sign Of Hope won for the first time in three American starts and is now three for 11 in his career, which began in England.

David Copperfield remained winless in three starts since being purchased for $2.6 million by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation in July.

Best known for his win over Fusaichi Pegasus in a maiden race last Dec. 11, David Copperfield established a clear lead immediately under jockey Victor Espinoza, set moderate fractions on Santa Anita’s firm course, drew 2 1/2 lengths clear with an eighth of a mile to run, but couldn’t hang on for trainer John Shirreffs.

At the wire, he did have 2 1/2 lengths on El Gran Papa, the 7-2 second choice, then came L’Effaceur, who had been supplemented to the race for $10,000 by owners Dick Waisa and Pam Applegate, and Jokerman. Designed For Luck scratched from the Oak Tree Derby in favor of the Ascot Handicap at Bay Meadows and he won that $100,000 race as the 3-2 favorite.

“The turf course at Del Mar was beat up and he stumbled all the way around in his races down there,” Solis said of Sign Of Hope, who finished third in the La Jolla Handicap and fifth in the Del Mar Derby in his first two races in the U.S.

“He just never got a hold of the course down there. The course here is in great shape and he handled it very well.”

John O’Donoghue, Drysdale’s assistant who saddled both horses, thought the firmer course would suit Sign Of Hope, a gelded son of the English sire Selkirk, but he was dismayed by Jokerman’s performance.

“It was very disappointing,” he said. “I thought he would run a huge race and I don’t know why he did not.”

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Millie’s Quest, who has run in five consecutive graded stakes, is the 5-2 favorite as she drops into softer company in today’s $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap at one mile on the turf.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for Charles and Audrey Kenis’ 3 Plus U Stable, Millie’s Quest last won on soft turf in the Lake George on July 31 at Saratoga, then was third in successive races behind Gaviola.

In a race that should have a fast pace, the 3-year-old Quest For Fame filly should be rolling late under Solis. Millie’s Quest broke her maiden in her U.S. debut last Dec. 8 at Hollywood Park.

Completing the field in the Ramser, from the inside out, are Janet, who has won two in a row for trainer Darrell Vienna; Velvet Morning, who is also trained by Frankel; Fire Sale Queen, Grooms Derby, who has been campaigned primarily in Canada; Miss Pixie, Onaccountofyou and High Margin.

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Caller One, one of the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, worked a half-mile in 46 2/5 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Jim Chapman, Caller One has won five of six in 2000, the only loss coming in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs.

Since failing in the Trial, the 3-year-old has won the Laz Barrera at Hollywood Park, the Carry Back at Calder Race Course and the Kentucky Cup Sprint at Turfway Park.

“Would I rather be saddling [Breeders’ Cup Sprint favorite] Kona Gold than him in the race? No, I wouldn’t,” said Chapman. “Kona Gold is just a monster. He’s a great sprinter, but can he come up and grab this horse at the quarter pole like he’s been doing? I don’t know. Race day will tell. He’s going to have to get by Caller One.”

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Turnofthecentury, an 11-1 shot, re-rallied along the inside to beat First Rodeo and win the $250,000 Empire Classic Handicap Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Empire Classic was the richest of seven stakes for New York-breds and the victory was the fifth in 10 starts for Turnofthecentury, a 3-year-old son of Holy Bull.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder for trainer Michael Hushion and owners Eugene Hauman and Barry Schwartz, the newly appointed chairman of the New York Racing Assn., Turnofthecentury completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 2/5.

Notes

Today is the final day of Belmont Park’s fall meet. Aqueduct opens Wednesday. The $100,000 Miss Grillo, a Grade III for 2-year-old fillies, is the closing-day feature. Dream Wish, Mystic Lady and Ruff head the field of nine, who will run 1 1/8 miles on the grass.