Desormeaux Fills the Void Nicely

For the second time in five days, illness was costly to a rider at Santa Anita.

Last Wednesday, David Flores lost three victories when he called in sick, and, on Sunday, Corey Nakatani missed a couple of winners, including 10-1 longshot High Margin in the $108,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap.

Trained by Craig Dollase, Nakatani’s brother-in-law, for owners Bruce and Joanne Thayre, and ridden by Kent Desormeaux for the first time, the 3-year-old Repriced filly tracked the pace set by Miss Pixie, took over into the stretch and held off 17-10 second choice Janet to win by one length in 1:35 for the mile on turf.

This was the fifth win in 11 starts for High Margin, who has two of the five victories on the grass.

“This was a pleasant surprise,” said Desormeaux. “I really didn’t know much about this filly, but Craig told me that she was very aggressive and that my job was going to be getting her to settle into stride.

“I was able to have her stalk the leader, but she was very keen and obviously when I let her go, she went on powerfully. She really took off very nicely.”

Seeking her third consecutive win, Janet finished a length in front of Fire Sale Queen, then came Millie’s Quest, the 7-5 favorite, Onaccountofyou and Miss Pixie.

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With Tiznow on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a sizable field is likely for the $250,000 California Cup Classic, the richest event in Saturday’s $1.275-million California Cup.

Cliquot was given highweight of 121 pounds and among those expected to challenge him are Sky Jack, Grey Memo, Spacelink, Brew, Crowning Meeting, Literal Prowler, First Journey and Count Again. Bagshot, who was assigned 120 pounds, and Chertly are considered possible.

Entries for the 11th California Cup will be taken Wednesday morning. Native Desert will be the starting highweight in the $175,000 Cal Cup Mile, Love That Red will head the field in the $150,000 Sprint, and Feverish and Chichim will try to defend their titles in the $150,000 Matron and $150,000 Distaff, respectively. The other Cal Cup races are the $125,000 Juvenile, the $125,000 Juvenile Fillies, the $50,000 Starter Sprint Handicap and the $50,000 Distaff Starter Handicap.

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Forest Camp, who disappointed as the favorite in the Forest Hills Handicap on Oct. 14 at Belmont Park, will not participate in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, trainer Eduardo Inda said.

“We’re going to pass,” said Inda. “Our main thing was to run well in New York and then we were going to run in the Breeders’ Cup. You’ve got to be realistic. He didn’t run well that day.”

A talented sprinter, Forest Camp had won the Pirate’s Bounty at Del Mar on Sept. 9 in his first start for Inda after being on the sidelines for about eight months for owners Aaron and Marie Jones.

The Joneses will pay the $400,000 supplemental fee today to pre-enter Riboletta in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Likely to be the shortest-price favorite on the Breeders’ Cup program and a candidate for horse of the year, Riboletta is scheduled to work for the first time at Churchill Downs this morning.

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Jockey John Velasquez swept both stakes Sunday at Belmont Park, closing day of the track’s fall meet.

Ruff, the 3-1 second choice, won the $100,000 Miss Grillo Stakes, completing the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:49 3/5. David Donk, who trains the 2-year-old Clever Trick filly, indicated that Ruff, who won by three lengths, could be headed to Hollywood Park for the $200,000 Miesque on Nov. 24.

Two races later, Volponi, a 9-1 outsider, rallied past favored Baptize to win the $100,000 Pilgrim Stakes by two lengths.

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Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. has 8,995 career victories after heavily favored Free Companion won Sunday’s third race at Santa Anita.