Chief Planner Strikes It Rich in Gold Rush

What may be the best 3-year-old distance horse in trainer Bob Baffert’s barn isn’t at Churchill Downs preparing for the Kentucky Derby.

Instead, Chief Planner was busy dominating the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the richest race on Hollywood Park’s California Gold Rush card Saturday.

Making his first start beyond seven furlongs, Chief Planner, the 9-5 second choice, beat 7-5 favorite Excessivepleasure by seven lengths in 1:49.12 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Golden Eagle Farm, the son of General Meeting figured to improve at the distance and he did not disappoint. Ridden by David Flores, he earned his second victory in seven starts in his second start of 2003.

The day didn’t go quite as well for an older Baffert runner.

General Challenge, the winner of the 2000 Santa Anita Handicap making his first start in 32 months, finished last in the $150,000 Tiznow, which was won by 5-2 second choice Joey Franco.

Two races earlier, Native Desert, a 10-year-old gelding, missed by a neck of becoming the oldest horse to win a stakes at Hollywood Park when beaten by Sea To See in the $150,000 Khaled Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile grass affair was marred by a spill involving Prized Friend and jockey Mike Smith.

The 7-year-old gelding had a clear lead early in the stretch, but suddenly ducked in and tried to hurdle the rail, sending Smith, who had been involved in another mishap earlier in the day when Bold N Broke suffered a fatal injury in the Snow Chief, hard to the turf. Smith was taken to nearby Centinela Medical Center for precautionary X-rays but apparently wasn’t seriously injured.

Other winners were Cee’s Elegance ($150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes), Shalini ($150,000 Fran’s Valentine), El Nuki ($70,000 Rancho San Miguel), Tucked Away ($60,000 Magali Farms), Five Star Meeting ($70,000 Lakeview Thoroughbred Farms), Bartok’s Blithe ($200,000 Melair) and Le Mans ($60,000 Pepper Oaks Farm).

-- Bob Mieszerski

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Midas Eyes, perhaps the next outstanding 3-year-old in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn, opened the Churchill Downs season with a 2 1/2-length victory in the $167,400 Derby Trial Stakes at Louisville, Ky.

Midas Eyes shook off a challenge from Champali, who finished second, 13 1/4 lengths ahead of Desert Warrior. None of the six starters is expected to run in the Derby, which will feature two Frankel horses, the favored Empire Maker and Peace Rules, who could be second choice.

Although Frankel says that Midas Eyes’ breeding (he’s by Touch Gold out of the mare Bayou Plans) would indicate that he could eventually handle longer distances, his next race will be the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park next month. The Metropolitan, like Saturday’s stake, is a mile.

Over a fast track that had been heavily hit by rain the day before, Midas Eyes turned in a time of 1:36 1/5. He paid $2.60 for $2, winning for the third time in four starts. The colt is owned by Ed Gann of Rancho Santa Fe, who also races Peace Rules.

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The Kentucky Derby picked up another starter when it was announced that Gary Garber had sold Domestic Dispute to fellow Californians David Bienstock and Chuck Winner.

Domestic Dispute, winner of two of 10 starts for his previous trainer, Bob Baffert, will go to the barn of Paddy Gallagher and be ridden by Alex Solis in the Derby. The colt, winner of the Santa Catalina at Santa Anita on Jan. 18, had been removed from Derby consideration by Baffert after finishing third in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19.

A field of between 15 and 18 horses is shaping up for the Derby. Definite are Atswhatimtalknbout, Brancusi, Buddy Gil, Domestic Dispute, Empire Maker, Funny Cide, Indian Express, Kafwain, Offlee Wild, Outta Here, Peace Rules, Scrimshaw, Sir Cherokee, Supah Blitz and Ten Most Wanted. Others that could run include Eye Of The Tiger, Lone Star Sky and Ten Cents A Shine.

-- Bill Christine