Trainer becomes first woman to condition a winner of the Santa Anita Derby

Jenine Sahadi had just become the first female trainer to win the $1-million Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8 with The Deputy (Ire), but her first reactions were much broader than savoring the moment.

"I met with the Kids to the Cup group this morning, and I had 12- and 13-year-old girls coming up to me and saying, 'I'd love to be just like you,' " said Sahadi proudly. "That makes you feel good."

Santa Anita Derby (G1)
Santa Anita Park, April 8, $1,000,000, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:49.08
1-THE DEPUTY (Ire), c. 3, =Petardia (GB)-Manfath (Ire), by Last Tycoon (Ire).
2-War Chant, c. 3, Danzig-Hollywood Wildcat, by Kris S.
3-Captain Steve, c. 3, Fly So Free-Sparkling Delite, by Vice Regent.

The victory notched another major milestone for Sahadi, 37, who became the first female trainer to win Breeders' Cup races with Lit de Justice and Elmhurst in the $1-million Sprint (G1) in 1996 and '97, respectively.

Climaxing a trying week on a triumphant note, Sahadi could have taken some time to elaborate upon a fiery exchange with rival trainer Bob Baffert at the post position draw breakfast two days earlier. But role model that she is, Sahadi chose to refrain from cheap shots and accent the positive.

Commenting on the large and enthusiastic Santa Anita Derby day crowd of 41,222 that buoyed her spirits by cheering for her and The Deputy before the race, Sahadi said, "I felt sort of like Julia Roberts because I really felt like I was somebody walking out of the paddock."

The adulation continued after The Deputy rallied from third under Chris McCarron to outgame War Chant for a length victory in 1:49.08 for 1 1/8 miles. War Chant was the slight 2.30-to-1 favorite over 2.40-to-1 The Deputy.

Captain Steve, the 4.10-1 third choice trained by Baffert, finished third, another two lengths back, followed in order by Anees, the two-year-old champion who rallied from last to finish three lengths behind Captain Steve; Surfside, the lone filly in the lineup who faded badly after setting the pace until the top of the stretch; and Cocky.

The winning time was the slowest since Horse of the Year A.P. Indy won in 1:49.25 in 1992.

The first four finishers were all listed as definite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6, and considering that the last three winners of the Run for the Roses were beaten in the Santa Anita Derby, there should be cause for optimism in all four camps.

Breakfast brouhaha

Baffert, who had recorded three firsts and three seconds with Santa Anita Derby starters during the past four years, was the center of a heated exchange for the second straight year. Last year, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer was involved in a shoving match with Scotty McClellan, McCarron's agent, after he opted for Gary Stevens aboard eventual winner General Challenge.

This year, Baffert sat at one end of the breakfast draw table, with Sahadi and McCarron at the other. Baffert, a needler who at times seems to have trouble distinguishing between clever and crude, asked McCarron before an audience of media and horsemen, "By the way, who's training The Deputy, you or Jenine?"

Sahadi replied with a Vesuvian eruption: "Thank God The Deputy has class because there are a lot of people here who don't!" She then dropped her microphone on the table and stormed off before a stunned crowd.

The Deputy vindicated her evaluation on race day. Many of the fans, quickly determining the villain and the heroine in this subplot, gave Baffert some of his own medicine after the race as he exited through the tunnel, sarcastically asking him, "Who trains Captain Steve?"

Team Valor President Barry Irwin, whose syndicate owns half of The Deputy in partnership with Gary Barber, had no questions or complaints about who trained the winner. "She's an excellent communicator and doesn't lie," said Irwin of Sahadi. "She calls me up every day. She's very open-minded and creative."

The Deputy, an Irish-bred who raced in England last year, became the second foreign-bred in 63 years to win the race, joining Irish-bred *Habitony in 1977.

Victorious in the Santa Catalina Stakes (G2) and second to Fusaichi Pegasus in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) since being transferred from the turf, The Deputy recorded his fourth victory in nine starts and nearly quadrupled his earnings to $817,270.

Irwin was impressed by tapes of the colt sent to him last fall by English bloodstock agent Gordian Troeller, visited the Lambourn training center of trainer John Hills, and bought him in record time. Irwin and 11 Team Valor partners own half, while the other half was sold to Barber, a Los Angeles-based South African-born film producer whose company Spyglass Entertainment made the 1999 hit The Sixth Sense.

Team Valor and partners finished second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Captain Bodgit in 1997. "Captain Bodgit was a big hulking sonofagun who needed help on the front end (a fast pace)," said Irwin. "This horse is medium to small, but I think he can handle any scenario."

Although The Deputy was beaten by Fusaichi Pegasus in his last start, Irwin added, "I don't think Fusaichi Pegasus is going to care for the circumstances at Churchill Downs, and I think our horse will."

McCarron, winning the Santa Anita Derby for the third time, said earlier in the week that he thought War Chant might be the best three-year-old in the country. "Now I hope he's the second best," quipped the quick-witted redhead. "We both had ideal trips. It was a just a matter of who was faster from the quarter pole to the wire."

Neil Drysdale trains both Fusaichi Pegasus, scheduled to start in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct April 15, and War Chant, who was unbeaten in three previous starts. "That's the first time he's been under a lot of pressure," said Drysdale. "You don't want to really be nailed against the rail, but I think we learned some things about him and look for him to move forward."

Baffert thought Captain Steve might run better. "I figured the worst he would run was third, but with the pace, the way it set up, and with him down on the inside, he never really kicked in," said Baffert of the colt, who has run well at Churchill.

Alex Hassinger, trainer of Anees, might have remembered that last year's fourth-place finisher in this race, Charismatic, won the Kentucky Derby. "I think when we change cities, we'll see a different horse, just like last year when he won the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile [G1])," said Hassinger. "There was no pace (:47.24 to the half), and he made a great run to be where he was."

Pat Day, rider of Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Surfside, said, "I don't think this is her favorite racetrack, but I was still a little disappointed that she didn't offer more resistance off the turn."

Sahadi likes one intangible in The Deputy's favor. "I feel he has a bigger heart than any other three-year-old," said Sahadi. "I've never been around a horse with such a disposition."

That may prove vital in Sahadi seeking her next major goal-becoming the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. That would motivate a lot more young girls to try and emulate her.

Falcon Flight Soars

Trainer Ben Cecil, Sahadi's husband, capped a dream day for the couple by sending out French import Falcon Flight (Fr) for an upset victory in the $163,250 El Rincon Handicap (G2) in his United States debut.

"I'm more thrilled for Jenine than myself," said Cecil in the winner's circle two hours after the Derby. "I'm just recovering from the champagne to celebrate that victory."

El Rincon H. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, April 8, $163,250, 11/8 miles, turf, firm, 1:47.88
1-FALCON FLIGHT (Fr), c. 4, =Persian Bold (Ire)-=Flying Circus (GB), by Gay Mecene.
2-Bonapartiste (Fr), h. 6, =Kendor (Fr)-Fab's Melody, by Devil's Bag.
3-Otavalo (Ire), h. 5, Diesis (GB)-Lacovia, by Majestic Light.

Falcon Flight rallied from sixth in the field of seven after being squeezed at the start to nip Bonapartiste (Fr) in the final strides for a neck victory in 1:47.88 for 1 1/8 miles on turf. Otavalo (Ire), who set much of the pace, finished third, one length back. Manndar (Ire), the 2.60-to-1 favorite, was fourth.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Falcon Flight was dismissed at 7.10-to-1 odds in his first outing since June.

The four-year-old son of Persian Bold won two of three previous starts in France last year, including the Prix Hocquart (Fr-G2) at Chantilly.

"Mr. (Gary) Tanaka bought him, but we had some difficulty getting him to vet out because of some problems with his hind end," said Cecil of the colt, who arrived in November. "I liked the horse a lot but thought he might need more than a mile and an eighth."

Cecil said Falcon Flight might run back in the $300,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby day undercard when he again hopes to take a back seat to his wife.

The Fly (GB) bowed a tendon and was vanned off the track after finishing last.

Kona Gold romps

Heavily favored Kona Gold rolled to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $200,998 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) on April 8, but do not expect to see the sprint star in too many more races this year.

"I want to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with him," said trainer Bruce Headley of the six-year-old gelding, runner-up in the Sprint last year and the third-place finisher in 1998. "I'll probably rest him for the Bing Crosby (Breeders' Cup) Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and the Ancient Title (Breeders' Cup) Handicap (G2) here at Oak Tree unless another big pot comes up somewhere."

Kona Gold, carrying highweight of 122 pounds, slipped inside pacesetter Lexicon at the top of the stretch and went on to cover the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.75 under Alex Solis as the 7-to-10 favorite. Old Topper rallied to finish second, two lengths in front of Your Halo.

Headley scratched stablemate Son of a Pistol, a non-Breeders' Cup eligible who won this race in 1998, and said he might resurface in the $150,000-added National Car Rental Handicap (G2) at seven furlongs on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard.

Kona Gold, owned by Headley and Irwin and Andrew Molasky of Las Vegas, recorded his sixth victory in 14 starts and raised his earnings to $909,684.

San Bernardino upset

Trainer Vladimir Cerin leaned on a crutch with his knee in a brace in the winner's circle on April 9. But he said he was feeling no pain after sending out Early Pioneer to an upset victory in the $159,150 San Bernardino Handicap (G2).

Early Pioneer, at 26.90-to-1 the longest shot in the field of five, outgamed Eastern invader David for a head victory as prohibitive 1-to-5 favorite General Challenge rallied belatedly to finish third, another 2 1/2 lengths back.

Early Pioneer, a five-year-old Rahy gelding ridden by Matt Garcia, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.08 for the biggest victory of his career. He has won eight of 28 career starts, and the $95,490 first prize raised his earnings to $426,815.

Cerin, enjoying a banner meet with 20 victories, was kicked in the knee the previous day while saddling a horse in Santa Anita's paddock and suffered ligament damage.

Cerin claimed Early Pioneer for $62,500 during the 1998 Oak Tree meet owners David and Holly Wilson and had run him primarily in sprints last year. "He's by Rahy, and I always felt he would be better going long," said Cerin, who is considering the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (G2) on May 13 at Hollywood Park or a stakes in Northern California for his next start. The gelding is nominated to the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on July 9.

"I was sitting in the garden spot all the way and had a lot of confidence at the quarter pole," Garcia said after his second San Bernardino victory in three years.

David, a four-year-old colt who had won 5-of-10 starts in New York the last two years, just missed in his 2000 debut after setting most of the pace as the 5.30-to-1 second choice.

"I wish I had had one race under his belt," said trainer Mike Hushion. "I'll have to talk with (owner Barry Schwartz), but the Metropolitan Mile (Handicap [G1] on May 29) could be next."

David spent the winter in the California barn of Eduardo Inda but missed the Strub Stakes (G2) with a quarter crack. He was ridden by Aaron Gryder, who grew up near Santa Anita and made his first start here in several years.

Early Pioneer was bred by John and Betty Mabee, but the victory provided little consolation for the couple, who watched their homebred General Challenge struggle home third under high weight of 123 pounds, ten more than the winner.

General Challenge's setback capped a long weekend for trainer Baffert, who was loudly booed after the race. "This is no fun at all," he said. "He was just too far back. He was throwing his head up and just wasn't into the bit. He just didn't show up. I'm as puzzled as you are."

Baffert knew the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Strub winner was in trouble when he was far back after the leaders posted a :47.84 half-mile and did not appear to be comfortable. "He was laboring and couldn't handle the track," said jockey Corey Nakatani.