Benchmark Victory for Garcia

Native Desert remains the best claim longtime trainer Juan Garcia has made, but Ringaskiddy is gaining ground.

The 6-year-old accomplished something on Santa Anita’s closing day that his older stablemate, despite his numerous successes, has not.

Ringaskiddy, a 10-1 longshot in the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, finished powerfully under jockey Eddie Delahoussaye to become Garcia’s first Grade I winner. Completing the marathon distance in 2:442/5, he defeated Staging Post, the 5-1 fourth choice in the field of eight, by 31/2 lengths.

Claimed by Garcia and partner Leonard Scofield for $50,000 on Jan. 13, 2001, Ringaskiddy nearly quintupled that figure with a $240,000 score Sunday.

In his 44 previous races, the gelded son of Slewvescent had earned $352,471, usually settling for minor prizes. He has six career wins, 11 seconds and seven thirds.

In becoming the first California-bred to win Santa Anita’s longest race since Queen’s Hustler in 1973, Ringaskiddy provided Delahoussaye with his third San Juan victory in the last six years.

Garcia, 59, noted that Ringaskiddy had a little trouble when he was a close fourth in last month’s San Luis Rey Stakes, but “this time everything was perfect.”

“Eddie just sat and waited and when everybody started to go wide, he saved all the ground,” Garcia added. “We claimed him because he was the kind of horse that could run a mile or a mile and a half.”

Staging Post, trying to give trainer Bobby Frankel his fifth Grade I win of the meet, finished three lengths clear of San Luis Rey winner Continental Red, then came 7-5 favorite Cagney, Chelsea Barracks, Keemoon, pacesetter Speedy Pick and Dispersed Reward.

Kerrygold, who would have been coupled in the betting with Chelsea Barracks, and Soul Warrior were scratched earlier in the day.

Returning to the turf after finishing fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, Cagney was wide under jockey Mike Smith in a disappointing effort.

“He started [lugging] out on me when he ran in the Japan Cup [Nov. 25] and, for some odd reason, he did it again today,” Smith said. “As the race continued, he got worse and worse. He had been training great, doing well, and he came back fine.

“Halfway down the backside, I was hanging on one rein, just trying to keep him on the course.”

*

Delahoussaye couldn’t complete a stakes sweep because Swept Overboard, the even-money favorite in the $125,000 San Simeon Handicap, ran poorly in his first start of 2002, finishing fifth in the field of nine.

Malabar Gold, who was fourth as the 2-5 favorite in last year’s San Simeon, won Sunday, edging Astonished by a head to win in a stakes record 1:113/5 for about 61/2 furlongs on turf. Chris McCarron rode the 7-2 second choice for owner B. Wayne Hughes and trainer Ron Ellis.

*

Buoyed by excellent weather, large, competitive fields and 25 pick-six carryovers, Santa Anita showed an 8.6% gain in average daily handle and a 10.6% rise in total handle for the season.

The average daily on-track attendance declined, however, dropping from 10,486 during the 2000-01 season to 9,930.

The combined average daily attendance, which factors in the various simulcast facilities, was down 1.5% from the preceding meet.

*

Jockey Alex Solis led the riders with 76 victories, six more than Kent Desormeaux, and Bob Baffert won his sixth consecutive training title at Santa Anita, finishing with 43 winners. Bill Spawr was second with 32.

*

Aggressive, who won his third in a row in Saturday’s eighth race, won’t be joining the Jerry Hollendorfer barn.

A $20,000 claim by Hollendorfer and co-owner Peter Abruzzo was voided because Aggressive was misspelled on the claim slip.

There is a California Horse Racing Board rule that nullifies a claim if the horse’s name is spelled wrong.

Therefore, Aggressive, a 5-year-old gelding who has raced only five times, remains with trainer Paul Assinesi.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

*--* Leading Jockey (2001 Meet): Laffit Pincay Jr. (64 wins) Hollywood Park at a Glance Meet: Wednesday-July 21 (65 days) Post Times: 1:15 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday and May 27; 7 p.m. Friday, except for 1:15 p.m. May 3 Highlights: California Gold Rush Day (Sunday), $200,000 Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap (May 25), $500,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap (May 27), $500,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (May 27), $350,000 Charlie Whittingham Memorial Handicap (June 15), $250,000 Vanity Handicap (June 22), $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (June 29), $500,000 American Oaks (July 6), $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (July 14) and $500,000 Swaps Stakes (July 14) Leading Trainer (2001 Meet): Jack Carava (22 wins)

*--*