It’s Bedlam for an easy victory in the Sensational Star Handicap

Given a chance to show his speed in his first start for a new trainer, Bedlam Bertie responded with an easy win in the $134,375 Sensational Star Handicap on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Strangled off the pace in his previous start Jan. 25 when trained by Bill Delia and ridden by Frank Alvarado, the 4-year-old Game Plan gelding quickly assumed command under David Flores and rolled to a 2 3/4 -length win in a race restricted to California breds.

Owned by Patricia Ford, Bedlam Bertie, the 5-2 second choice, made his first start for trainer Mike Machowsky and came through with his fourth win in 12 starts.

In his fourth win in nine tries on grass, Bedlam Bertie ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13. Areyoutalkintome, the 5-2 third choice, finished second, a nose in front of 14-1 shot Red Warrior in a race reduced to six starters.

Buck Tuddy Buck and Proud Tower Too, who ran second in the San Carlos Handicap on Saturday, were scratched.

“Looking at the [Daily Racing] Form, there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race, but he’s kind of a nervous horse and I’ve spent a lot of time quieting him down,” Machowsky said. “He’s an uptight horse, but he trains great. I thought he would run big today.

“Bill did a great job with him all along. I’m pretty much the sub trainer. Bill’s had him his entire career.”

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Jockey Garrett Gomez, who rode only one race Saturday, took off all eight of his mounts again Sunday because of illness.

Gomez, who leads all riders at the Santa Anita meet with 52 wins, including 11 in stakes races, is named to ride in eight of the 10 races today.

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Lava Man, who will try to become the third horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap for a second consecutive year March 3, probably won’t lack for opponents in the $1-million Grade I event.

As many as 10 could run in the 1 1/4 -mile Big ‘Cap, including Strub winner Arson Squad, Boboman, Awesome Gem, Ball Four, San Antonio winner Molengao, Spring At Last, Brother Derek, El Roblar, Wilko and McCann’s Mojave, upset winner in the Sunshine Millions Classic.

If Lava Man wins the Santa Anita Handicap again, he will join John Henry and Milwaukee Brew as back-to-back winners.

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Introspect, the 5-2 second choice, held off 5-1 shot Ferocious Won by a head to win the $72,425 Hollie Hughes Handicap on Sunday at Aqueduct.

Trained by Billy Turner Jr. for Castle Village Farm, the 7-year-old In Case gelding won for the sixth time in 45 starts, running the six furlongs in a race restricted to New York breds in 1:11.64. Eddie Martin was aboard the winner.

Papua, who was trying to win the Hollie Hughes for a fourth time, finished fifth and Touchdown Kid, the 2-1 favorite, was seventh.

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Olympic Prospect, a multiple graded stakes winner for owners Frank Sinatra and Lawrence Opas and trainer John Sadler, had to be euthanized Saturday because of the infirmities of old age, which included severe arthritis. The gelding, who had lived in retirement at Kevin and Brook Bayerlein’s ranch in Alpine, Calif., was 23.

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In conjunction with the new Breeders’ Cup race for female sprinters, there will be a new Eclipse Award for the champion filly or mare sprinter. The inaugural Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, with a purse of $1 million, will be Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com