Stakes Are High for Frankel

Bobby Frankel still is on a roll.

Finishing with a rush, the Hall of Fame trainer was the leading trainer at Hollywood Park, edging Cliff Sise and Bob Baffert, 23-22, and he hasn’t slowed down by the beach.

Baffert is en route to his fourth consecutive Del Mar title, but Frankel has 11 victories from only 31 starters. And seven of his wins have been in stakes, the latest provided by Skimming, who gave the trainer a record fifth win in the Pacific Classic last weekend.

Frankel’s barn has also done well outside California. A week before the Pacific Classic, Frankel won his first Arlington Million when Chester House scored his elusive initial win in the United States.

Frankel may be in limited action as Del Mar winds down, but he does have a chance to add more stakes wins.

On Monday, Boatman may run in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap, but Northern Quest probably will be Frankel’s lone starter in a Grade II he has won twice before.

In 1981, Wickerr, one of Frankel’s favorite horses, beat Tahitian King and Galaxy Libra and, in 1993, Luazur upset Kotashaan, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf two months later and earn horse-of-the-year honors.

The Del Mar Handicap is one of four stakes to be run at the track over the holiday weekend, along with the Del Mar Debutante, Solana Beach Handicap and Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap. It will be run at 11 furlongs over a turf course that has come under increasing fire.

Frankel is among those who say the course is “chewed up” and that horses are having trouble gaining their best footing. Because of Frankel’s concern, Happyanunoit will not run in the $400,000 Ramona Handicap on Sept. 9. In her place, Spanish Fern may participate in the Grade I.

“It’s been [bad] since the first day of the meet,” Frankel said of the turf course. “They have a new watering system and it hasn’t been good at all. They aren’t denying that they have a problem.

“Horses are not getting the footing they normally get on this course. They’re spinning their wheels.”

Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s director of racing, told the Daily Racing Form recently that the course will be evaluated after the meet concludes Sept. 13.

Owned by Charles and Audrey Kenis’ 3 Plus U Stable, Northern Quest will be making his first start in California. A winner of four of 10 races in Europe, the 5-year-old French-bred was third in the Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park in June, then won the Arlington Handicap last month in Illinois.

“He should have won the race in Texas,” said Frankel. “[Jockey] Brice [Blanc] didn’t shake him up and he dropped back to last around the turn, then came flying in the middle of the track and got beat a length and a half. Another few jumps and he was going to win.

“At Arlington, [jockey Robby] Albarado kept him closer and he just pulled him around there.”

A winner of two $1-million races in the last two weeks, Frankel will try for another in the Atto Mile on Sept. 10 at Woodbine. He will send out Riviera, who will be ridden by John Velasquez, and Honest Lady, who will have Pat Day aboard for the first time.

Riviera, who won the Wickerr Handicap at Del Mar when American Spirit was disqualified Aug. 4, should be suited to a one-turn mile. Honest Lady will be switching surfaces to take on males after suffering through a brutal trip and finishing fourth in the Ballerina Handicap on Aug. 20 at Saratoga.

“We’re trying to decide between the Breeders’ Cup Sprint or Breeders’ Cup Mile with her and this will help make up our minds,” Frankel said.

Happyanunoit, the beaten favorite in the Beverly D. at Arlington, will try to start a new winning streak in October. She’ll run in either the Flower Bowl Handicap at Belmont Park or try to defend her title in the Vinery First Lady at Keeneland.

Frankel said no decision has been made on who will ride the mare, who was second under Blanc in the Beverly D.

“There were some little things that went wrong before the race,” said Frankel, without elaborating. “Nothing major and I know how those things can be corrected. I still think she’s the best grass mare in the country. You’ll see.”

Skimming could be headed to Belmont Park for the $500,000 Woodward on Sept. 16 while future plans for Chester House are undecided.

Despite Chester House’s recent success on turf, Juddmonte Farms, his owners, want to point for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

“I say, if it isn’t broke, why fix it?,” said Frankel. “I’ll have to discuss it with them. He’s a very valuable stallion right now so what we do is crucial.”

Notes

Gary Stevens, who said early last month he was ending his comeback, is working horses again at Del Mar. The Hall of Fame jockey retired last Dec. 26, citing chronic knee problems.

Six 2-year-old fillies have been entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Del Mar Debutante. From the rail out, the field for the Grade I includes Beauty And Style, Euro Empire, Notable Career, Sea Reel, Give Praise and Cindy’s Hero.

Fusaichi Pegasus, who worked three furlongs in 39 2/5 Wednesday morning at Hollywood Park, will leave Sunday for New York. The Kentucky Derby winner will be stabled at Belmont Park and is scheduled to run once--in a race yet to be determined--before the Breeders’ Cup Classic.