Uncharted Haven Wins for Frankel

Victories in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap are nothing new for trainer Bobby Frankel.

For the fourth time in six years, the hall of famer won the Grade II race Monday. The heroine this time was Uncharted Haven, the 5-2 favorite who raced coupled with fourth-place finisher Dancingonice.

Following Wandesta, Sixieme Sens and See You Soon, Frankel’s other winners in the San Gorgonio since 1996, Uncharted Haven took over from her entrymate early in the stretch, then survived a late run from longshot Brianda--and a stewards’ inquiry--to win by a neck in 1:50 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Ridden by Alex Solis for owners Charles and Audrey Kenis’ 3 Plus U Stable, the 4-year-old English bred filly earned her fourth victory in 10 starts and gave Frankel his 700th victory at Santa Anita. He is second on the all-time list during the winter-spring meet at the track behind the late Charlie Whittingham’s 869.

“I thought Dancingonice would get an easy lead and she did,” Frankel said. “I was between this an allowance race for Uncharted Haven, but that race didn’t go.

“I wasn’t worried about her being disqualified after I saw the replay because [the contact with Brianda] happened right on the wire.

“This filly should have won her last race at Churchill Downs [on Nov. 18]. When she got to the lead, she started loafing, but Alex said when the other filly came to her, she went on again.”

This was the third victory in this country for Uncharted Haven, who was one for four in France, and all three have come with Solis.

“I had a really good trip,” Solis said. “I thought I’d be about seven or eight lengths behind because it looked like there was a lot of speed in there. But it didn’t turn out that way. I was a lot closer than I wanted to be, but I was fortunate to save ground and get through on the rail.”

Brianda, a 20-1 shot who was coupled in the betting with Speaking Of Time and finished eighth, wound up 1 1/2 lengths clear of Beautiful Noise, the 5-2 second choice.

Not surprisingly, Matt Garcia, the rider of the runner-up, didn’t agree with the decision of stewards Ingrid Fermin, Pete Pedersen and Tom Ward to not disqualify the winner.

“If I had stayed inside, I probably would have won,” he said. “I would have won anyway if [Uncharted Haven] does not come out and knock my filly off her feet. There’s no doubt in my mind that I rode the best filly in the race.”

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Feverish, who probably would have been a participant in the San Gorgonio had rain forced the race to the main track, returns in the $75,000 Paseana Handicap at 1 1/16 miles when racing resumes Thursday at Santa Anita.

Trained by Dan Hendricks for owners Pam and Marty Wygod, the 6-year-old Pirate’s Bounty mare has won four of her last eight and has been second in her four defeats.

A game winner over Gourmet Girl in the Bayakoa Handicap last month at Hollywood Park, Feverish will carry highweight of 123 pounds against seven rivals. Eddie Delahoussaye will again ride.

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A reunion with jockey Jerry Bailey was all Istintaj needed to end a three-race losing streak.

The 5-year-old son of Nureyev rallied from off the pace to defeat 7-1 shot Miner’s Gamble and 11 others in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes, a Grade III, at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Mark Hennig for the Shadwell Stable, Istintaj is five for six when ridden by Bailey and one for seven with other riders.

This was the sixth lifetime victory for the homebred and his first in a graded stakes. He completed the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 while winning by two lengths.