Stanley Park Makes Trip Worthwhile at Santa Anita

A stretch to 1 1/2 miles and a clean trip, something he had not gotten 18 days earlier, were the keys to success for Stanley Park in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Handicap on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Ridden to perfection by Gary Stevens, the 5-year-old son of Swain picked up his second graded stakes win with a 7-1 upset over 3-2 favorite Meteor Storm and nine others.

An unlucky third March 9 in an allowance race in his second start after a long layoff, Stanley Park responded to a rider change to win for the fourth time in 11 races. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the chestnut completed the distance in 2:27.45. It was his first win in five starts over the Santa Anita turf course and his first win since he won the Bay Meadows Derby -- also at 7-1 -- on Nov. 1, 2003.

“This horse has had a little bit of bad racing luck,” Shirreffs said. “He’s been blocked, he’s been caught in pockets and hasn’t really gotten his trip. He got his trip” Sunday.

After winning the Grade II for the third time in his Hall of Fame career, Stevens was happy to get a chance to ride Stanley Park, a horse he had come to admire.

“I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time, and I’ve watched all of his races,” he said. “I didn’t know I was going to ride him until [Friday], and I was excited.

“We got in contention at the three-eighths, and it was just a matter of running them down the last eighth of a mile.”

Trying to become only the fourth horse to win the San Luis Rey in consecutive years, Meteor Storm was positioned close to the pace set by second choice Star Over The Bay and got the lead in the stretch under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. but was no match for the winner late.

“He ran great,” trainer Wally Dollase said. “He [Valdivia] said he didn’t have any problem with him and he did everything right. He just got beat.”

The disappointment in the race was Star Over The Bay. Trying for his sixth win in seven starts since being claimed by trainer Mike Mitchell for $80,000 on May 16, the gray gelding was in his usual spot -- setting the pace -- but weakened late and had to settle for fifth at 9-5. Even so, he was beaten only by 2 1/2 lengths.

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With three weeks remaining in Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, trainer Doug O’Neill already holds the record for most victories during a season, thanks to a win by 1-5 favorite Keystone Malibu in Sunday’s first race.

The win was the 48th of the meet for O’Neill, enabling him to surpass the record of 47 set by Gary Jones during the 1974-75 meet and equaled by Bob Baffert in 1997-98.

“We finally got it done,” said O’Neill, 37, who watched the race from a Las Vegas racebook. He was there for the Easter holiday with family as part of a trip planned several months earlier.

“Something like this is really unbelievable. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing. I hope to God it lasts, because I’m having the time of my life.”

Trainer Richard Rosales saddled Keystone Malibu, a 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon who broke her maiden in her fifth start for owner Royce Jaime. She was ridden by Corey Nakatani, but it was her last race for O’Neill. She was claimed for $32,000 by Mitchell for owner Nathaniel Friedman.

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Jockey Jon Court, who is one win shy of 3,000 career victories, will begin a three-day suspension Friday after being disqualified from first and placed second aboard Flying General in last Friday’s seventh race.

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Triple Crown Ratings

Tribune Co. ratings for 3-year-olds leading to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes:

Horse; Jockey; Trainer; St; W; P; S; Last race; Next race

1. Sun King; Edgar Prado; Nick Zito; 6; 3; 0; 2; Tampa Bay Derby (1st); Blue Grass Stakes (April 16)

2. Consolidator; Rafael Bejarano; Wayne Lukas; 9; 3; 1; 1; San Felipe (1st); Blue Grass Stakes (April 16)

3. Greater Good; John McKee; Bob Holthus; 7; 5; 0; 1; Rebel Stakes (1st); Arkansas Derby (April 16)

4. Sweet Catomine; Corey Nakatani; Julio Canani; 6; 5; 1; 0; Santa Anita Oaks (1st); Santa Anita Derby (April 9)

5. High Fly; Jerry Bailey; Nick Zito; 5; 4; 0; 1; Fountain of Youth (1st); Florida Derby (Saturday)

6. Noble Causeway; Pat Day; Nick Zito; 5; 3; 2; 0; Allowance (1st); Florida Derby (Saturday)

7. Rockport Harbor; Stewart Elliott; John Servis; 5; 4; 1; 0; Rebel Stakes (2nd); Arkansas Derby (April 16)

8. Bandini ; John Velazquez; Todd Pletcher; 4; 2; 1; 0; Fountain of Youth (2nd); Florida Derby (April 2)

9. High Limit; Ramon Dominguez; Bobby Frankel; 3; 3; 0; 0; Louisiana Derby (1st); Blue Grass Stakes (April 16)

10. Survivalist; Richard Migliore; Shug McGaughey; 5; 2; 2; 0; Gotham Stakes (1st); Wood Memorial (April 9)

Triple Crown panel: Bill Christine, Los Angeles Times; Tom Keyser, Baltimore Sun; Dave Joseph, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune; Paul Moran, Newsday.