Big ‘Cap Loses Favorite to Injury

Mizzen Mast, who would have been favored in next Saturday’s $1-million Santa Anita Handicap, will not run because of a hoof injury.

Trainer Bobby Frankel said Sunday that Mizzen Mast was unable to work Saturday at Hollywood Park because of a crack in the 4-year-old colt’s left front hoof. Mizzen Mast, who has a history of foot problems, will have the crack patched and resume training, Frankel said.

Frankel, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer the last two years, will still try to break his winless streak in the Big ‘Cap with Euchre and Milwaukee Brew. Both horses are owned by Frank Stronach, whose Magna Entertainment owns Santa Anita, and will be coupled in the betting.

Garrett Gomez will ride Euchre and Kent Desormeaux, who would have ridden Mizzen Mast, gets the assignment on Milwaukee Brew.

At 120 pounds, Mizzen Mast would have been the high weight for the 65th Big ‘Cap. Now the co-high weights will be Euchre and Futural, at 118 pounds.

The Big ‘Cap hasn’t had a starting high weight under 120 pounds since Terrang, at 116 pounds, upset Hillsdale to win the 1959 running.

Other weights for horses expected to run Saturday include Freedom Crest and Irisheyesareflying (116); Cagney and Kudos (115); Fancy As and Giant Gentleman (114); and Last Parade and Milwaukee Brew (113).

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Trainers in California and their owners are facing enormous increases in their workers’ compensation insurance, beginning Friday, as the result of all companies but one being unwilling to underwrite the coverage.

The California Horse Racing Board was told at its meeting last Thursday that the increases could force many trainers out of business.

“This is a crisis,” Ed Halpern, a trainer and executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, said Sunday. Halpern said that “maybe a few” trainers might decline to enter horses this week in order to bring attention to their plight.

Because jockeys have historically been considered independent contractors in California, they must be insured by trainers on the day they ride, and that part of the insurance will increase the most. Halpern said that beginning Friday, it will cost $73 a race to insure a jockey, compared to the old rate of $29.

Alan Landsburg, chairman of the racing board, said that he would assist a cross-section of the industry in approaching the State Insurance Commission for help. Landsburg referred to the insurance increases as an “emergency situation.”

Jack Liebau, president of Santa Anita, said that the long-term approach to the insurance increases would be a “legislative solution.”

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Shuffling Kid, a British import that successfully made his U.S. debut at the same down-the-hill distance on Feb. 3, held off several challengers to win the $114,400 Baldwin Stakes at 61/2 furlongs.

The first five finishers were separated by less than a length. The win was the second in a stake in as many days for jockey Pat Valenzuela and added to an already successful meet for trainer Mike Machowsky. Valenzuela won Saturday’s Ken Maddy Handicap with Echo Eddie at Golden Gate Fields. Shuffling Kid, paying $26.20, hit the wire in 1:13 1/5.

Presenting the award in the winner’s circle was trainer Noble Threewitt, who turned 91 Sunday. Threewitt, who has five horses now, was training at Santa Anita when the track opened in 1934; he saddled his first winner on the fifth day of the inaugural season.