Frankel gets nice bookend

Bobby Frankel ended 2006 the same way he began the year.

Able to win the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap on New Year’s Day with Badge Of Silver, the Hall of Fame trainer won the Grade II again on New Year’s Eve with King’s Drama.

The victory was far from easy Sunday at Santa Anita for King’s Drama, the 9-10 favorite. He was all out to beat stubborn pacesetter and 10-1 shot Railroad by half a length in 1:48.53 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Making his first start since June 10 for owner Gary Tanaka, King’s Drama, a gelded son of King’s Theatre won for the 10th time in 30 starts and pushed his earnings to $1,157,916.

“He’s easy to ride,” said jockey David Flores of the winner. “He’s a long-striding horse and he’s got a good turn of foot, but it takes him about a sixteenth of a mile to really get going. I got after him at about the three-eighths pole, so it worked out well.”

The victory also continued what has been a quick start to the Santa Anita meet for Frankel, who had won the opening-day Malibu with Latent Heat and the Kalookan Queen with Indian Flare on Thursday before the San Gabriel.

“He’s a good horse,” said Frankel. “The Tin Man proved you are never too old to win on the turf. This horse tries hard and he’s a gelding, so he’s going to be around a long time as long as I take good care of him.”

Railroad, who was making his first start at nine furlongs, finished one length in front of 2-1 second choice Hendrix, then came Porfido, Don Incauto, Southern Africa, Capitano and Rhythm Mad.

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Valbenny, the 8-5 favorite, remained perfect in two starts in the United States with a one-length victory over 7-1 shot Courtwood in the $83,150 Blue Norther Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

A winner at 9-1 in the Miesque last month at Hollywood Park, the daughter of Val Royal has a three-race win streak, factoring in a victory against maidens in her final start in Ireland on July 25.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Valbenny ran the mile on turf in 1:36.18 for a partnership and trainer Paddy Gallagher. Good Mood, the 9-5 second choice, finished fourth for trainer Patrick Biancone in her U.S. debut.

“She’s awesome,” Solis said. “I mean she can give you a good, strong three-eighths of a mile run and then give you a quarter in 22 [seconds]. She finished super.”

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After a horse at Golden Gate Fields tested positive for equine herpes a few days ago, that track and two others in Northern California -- Bay Meadows and Pleasanton -- were placed under quarantine.

Horses at those three venues won’t be able to be shipped out of the area during the quarantine, which will last a minimum of 10 days, according to Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.

Thoroughbreds shipping to that part of the state will have to remain during the quarantine period. Equine herpes is contagious and can sometimes be fatal.

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Naughty New Yorker, a 9-2 shot, rebounded from a subpar effort Dec. 9 to easily win the $68,420 Alex M. Robb Handicap on Sunday at Aqueduct.

Jean-Luc Samyn rode the 4-year-old Quiet American colt to his eighth win in 29 starts for Fox Ridge Farm and trainer Patrick Kelly in the race restricted to New York breds. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.64. Accountforthegold, the 13-10 favorite seeking his third consecutive win, finished third.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com