On the Acorn gives partners a good closing

During a long and successful career as a sportswriter and racing publicist, Jack Disney has always claimed the highlight was covering the first Super Bowl in 1967 between Green Bay and Kansas City at the Coliseum.

No more. On the Acorn, an English bred that Disney and his five partners claimed for $40,000 Nov. 25, won the $250,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, the traditional closing day feature Sunday at Santa Anita.

A winner only three times in 21 starts before a claim recommended by trainer Mike Mitchell, On the Acorn, who was gelded the day after the purchase, is now three for six for his current connections. The $150,000 check he earned pushed his bankroll for the year to $248,400.

Besides Disney and his brother Doug, others in the partnership are Ross Newhan, the retired Hall of Fame baseball writer for The Times, former major league catcher and manager Buck Rodgers, Fred Krueger and Paul Salata.

Watching the race from his seat in a press box, which grew increasingly louder as On the Acorn mounted his rally, Disney became the second member of the Santa Anita publicity staff to win a major race in 2007. Mike Willman, Disney’s boss, won the $1-million Sunshine Millions Classic about three months earlier at Gulfstream Park.

An unlucky third -- moved up to second on a disqualification -- in the San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 25, On the Acorn, the 5-2 second choice in the Grade II, relaxed perfectly under new jockey Victor Espinoza, then kicked home strongly to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for the near 1 3/4 miles on turf was 2:48.02.

Sweet Return, the 17-10 favorite, finished second after setting all the pace, a neck in front of 11-1 shot Fitz Flag.

On the Acorn isn’t the first long-distance turf horse Mitchell has claimed who went on to achieve stakes glory. In recent years, he has done the same with Star Over the Bay, Leprechaun Kid and Symphony Sid.

“This is a big race to win for Jack and all of his partners,” Mitchell said.

“That’s the way this horse wants to run. He was covered up and relaxed and Victor did a great job.”

The win was the 83rd of the meet for Espinoza, enabling him to tie Garrett Gomez for the top spot in the jockey standings. Doug O’Neill led the trainers with 56 victories, bettering his record of 54 set last year. It was the third consecutive title at Santa Anita for O’Neill.

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Santa Anita concluded its 85-day meet with a record average all sources mutuel handle of $11.7 million a day and daily average on-track attendance, thanks in part to an especially dry winter, was also up slightly (1%) for a second consecutive year.

There were five on-track crowds of more than 30,000 for the first time in a decade, topped by the 56,810 who saw Tiago’s 29-1 upset win in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com

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At a glance

Post times and significant races at Hollywood Park. The 63-day meet starts Wednesday and ends July 15:

Post times: 1:20 p.m. with the following exceptions: Noon (May 5, June 9, June 30 and July 7), 12:30 p.m. (Sunday) and 7 p.m. (Friday, May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6 and July 13.)

* Significant races: California Gold Rush (April 29), $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (May 12), $300,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (May 28), $300,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup Stakes (May 28), $300,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (June 9), $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (June 30), $1-million CashCall Mile (July 6), $750,000 American Oaks (July 7), $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap (July 7), $300,000 Vanity Handicap (July 7), $350,000 Swaps Breeders’ Cup Stakes (July 14) and $150,000 Sunset Breeders’ Cup Handicap

(July 15).

* Leading jockey (2006 meet): Victor Espinoza (60 wins).

* Leading trainer (2006 meet): Jeff Mullins (29 wins).

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Los Angeles Times