Keepscratching Keeps Winning for Sengara, West

For the second year in a row, owner Jeffrey Sengara and trainer Ted H. West saw one of their claims win on San Antonio Handicap day.

Last year Budroyale, one of the best claims in the history of thoroughbred racing and the older brother of reigning horse of the year Tiznow, knocked off Cat Thief and Elaborate, among others, to win the San Antonio, the final major prep for the Santa Anita Handicap.

This past Sunday, Sengara and West didn’t have a starter in the San Antonio, but earlier in the afternoon, Keepscratching became the winningest thoroughbred through the first 33 days of the Santa Anita meet.

A 9-year-old chestnut gelding, Keepscratching won for the third time since Jan. 7 and for the 14th time in his 59-race career. Re-claimed by Sengara and West for $20,000 after a six-length win for owner Jade Pegasus and trainer Eddie Truman, the son of Northern Magus stepped up two levels and defeated $32,000 foes on Jan. 15.

Bumped to the $40,000 plateau Sunday--although he was actually eligible to be claimed for $35,000--Keepscratching continued his roll, winning by half a length over Sing Because, another hard-knocking veteran, in the seven-furlong race.

Considering the way he is running and provided he remains healthy, Keepscratching could threaten the record for wins in Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet. With nearly 10 weeks remaining before the season concludes April 16, he is halfway to tying the record of six shared by four horses.

Natural Splendor, who won half a dozen races during the 1983-84 meet, was the most recent to equal the mark. Dandini was the first to win that many in 1967-68, followed by Page (1970-71) and Chief Artist (1978-79).

“We had him before and we were happy with how he ran in the two races for us before we lost him for $40,000,” said West, who works with his father, Ted, a trainer for nearly 40 years who won the San Fernando Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap with the brilliant Interco in 1984.

“When he was back in for $20,000, we decided to take a shot. My father really wanted the horse. He has a soft spot for those tough, old campaigners.”

In two starts for West last year, Keepscratching won once and ran into a lot of trouble when finishing fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong turf race at Hollywood Park on June 30.

“The day we claimed him back he won easily and he came out of the race like he hadn’t even run,” said West, explaining why Keepscratching returned on such short notice last month.

“He’s a pretty tough horse with a good appetite. He has some little problems, but he really doesn’t act like he’s a 9-year-old. He’s tough to gallop in the morning because he’s doing so good and feeling so good. Around the barn, he’s a pretty nice, friendly horse.”

Bred in Florida by John Scott, Keepscratching is also a horse who enjoys running along the rail. In his last two victories, he has broken from post 1. He stayed along the inside when rallying to beat Warum Nicht in his win for $32,000, then in his victory Sunday, he skimmed the fence for most of the way, before angling out, then splitting horses under jockey Alex Solis, the rider during the win streak, to defeat Sing Because.

“He’s a lot of fun,” Solis said. “He’s a hard-trying old horse. He’s all business when he’s out there.

“He always tries hard. You just need to hold him together and let him do his thing.”

According to West, Keepscratching could surface again in the next couple of weeks. A possible spot is a $32,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 17.

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Lasersport, the 3-year-old who suffered his first loss in Saturday’s San Vicente Stakes, will be out indefinitely because of a fractured right knee.

Purchased by Bill Herrick after two easy victories at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs, Lasersport had won the San Miguel Stakes on Jan. 13 in his first start in California for trainer Darrell Vienna.

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Perfect in two starts since being purchased by a partnership including Barry Irwin and Jeff Siegel’s Team Valor last spring, Golden Ballet will try two turns for the first time in Saturday’s $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes.

Trained by Jenine Sahadi, the 3-year-old daughter of Moscow Ballet made a successful 2001 debut when easily winning the Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 20. The one-mile Las Virgenes will mark her first start in a Grade I race.

“I have a great deal of confidence in her, but until they do something you’re not sure if they can do it,” Sahadi said. “She’s clearly a phenomenal filly, but I just want to get through this weekend and have everything go well. I’ll let her tell me what she wants to do. So far she’s answered all the questions.”

Others entered Thursday morning for the Las Virgenes, which was won last year by eventual Eclipse Award winner Surfside, are Thewholebag, Irguns Angel, Ella’s Pal, Collect Call (who won the Santa Ysabel at nearly 8-1 last month), Two Item Limit (a two-time graded stakes winner in New York last fall), Warren’s Whistle, Affluent and Flute.

Notes

Special Times, a son of Seeking The Gold who won his debut going 1 1/16 miles, is among six 3-year-olds scheduled to run in today’s $75,000-added Sham Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Bob Baffert for owners John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, Special Times will be ridden again by Gary Stevens and will be coupled in the wagering with Wild And Wise.