A Surprise Winner in Golden State

Check Him Out, at 5-1, finished strongly to win the $207,800 Golden State Derby by nearly a length Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Sam Thompson for a partnership that includes trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, the 3-year-old son of the thoroughbred sire Hennessy dominated to end a three-race losing streak.

This wasn’t the first time Check Him Out had scored an upset in a Grade I. Last year, when trained by Laura Lukas and owned in part by her husband Wayne, the California-bred won the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity at 8-1.

In winning for the sixth time in 14 starts, Check Him Out completed the 400 yards in 19.67 seconds and improved upon his performance in his trial for the Golden State two weeks ago.He had finished third behind A Tac First, the fastest qualifier who finished second Saturday night, and Winners Want Cash, part of an entry along with Sassy Smith that finished off the board in the final.

Last Shall Be First, a 9-1 longshot, finished third under jockey G.R. Carter.

The sport’s most successful trainer, Schvaneveldt won the Golden State for a second time. His earlier victory came with Templetonian in 1996.

“Blane’s changed a few things with him and they’ve really made a difference,” said Thompson, who collected his second Golden State victory in four years after taking the 1999 renewal with IBA Dasher.

“He minded his manners tonight. I think he’s as nice a 3-year-old as there is in the country. He beat a lot of nice ones in this race.”