General Challenge wins by more than nine lengths under a new rider

"I was hoping to talk Mr. (John) Mabee into going to Dubai," said trainer Bob Baffert, tongue firmly in cheek, when asked in the winner's circle at Santa Anita Park on February 5 about his plans for General Challenge. "But we'll probably stay here for the Big 'Cap."

Strub S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 5, $490,000, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:48.81

1-GENERAL CHALLENGE, g. 4, General Meeting-Excellent Lady, by Smarten.
2-Luftikus, c. 4, Meadowlake-Andora, by Conquistador Cielo.
3-Saint's Honor, c. 4, St. Jovite-Luck Too, by What Luck.

Hearing the comment a few feet away, John Mabee's head snapped in Baffert's direction, and he replied firmly, "The Mabees are going to Dubai (for the $6-million Dubai World Cup [UAE-G1] on March 25), but the horse is not."

Baffert and Golden Eagle Farm owners John and Betty Mabee could enjoy a few moments of levity after General Challenge rallied from far back in the field of four for an eye-catching 9 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Strub Stakes (G2) for four-year-olds. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.81.

"Today, he ran like he can," said Mabee, wearing a burgundy sports coat that matched his silks. Any semblance of a repeat performance should make the four-year-old gelding tough to beat in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at 1 1/4 miles on March 4.

Mabee will have little trouble resisting the temptation to ship the talented but sometimes immature gelding halfway around the world after unfruitful trips to Louisiana, Kentucky, and Florida last year.

In his previous start, the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) on January 15, General Challenge was bumped and steadied sharply on the far turn while trying to close along the rail and finished fourth, prompting Baffert to make a jockey switch to Corey Nakatani for the first time.

It was a perfect match. Nakatani allowed General Challenge to relax in last early, about ten lengths back, as Cliquot, Saint's Honor, and Luftikus battled three across the track to an opening half-mile in :46.14. Approaching the far turn, Nakatani asked the gelding and he responded with his long, ground-devouring strides to circle the field at the top of the stretch and draw off under a hand ride under high weight of 123 pounds as the 3-to-5 favorite.

Luftikus (117) finished second, three lengths ahead of San Fernando winner Saint's Honor, who was a half-length in front of Cliquot. Cape Canaveral was scratched because of a filling in an ankle.

The last time the Strub had only four starters, 1980, Spectacular Bid won in record time of 1:57 4/5 for 1 1/4 miles en route to Horse of the Year honors. General Challenge's winning margin was the largest since Affirmed won by ten lengths in 1979 and went on to become Horse of the Year. General Challenge raised his earnings to $1,996,920 with his eighth victory in 14 starts.

General Challenge had been ridden by Chris McCarron in his previous two starts and by David Flores in the five preceding those.

"He's a difficult horse to train and a difficult horse to ride," Baffert said. "I hate to keep switching jockeys, but I'm trying to find the right one. I thought Corey would get along with him great, and I just told him not to get in tight and loop the field if you have to."

Baffert, who won the Strub with Silver Charm in 1998, also credited assistant Jim Barnes and exercise riders Dana Barnes and Larry Damore for overtime work getting the finicky gelding used to being hit in the face with dirt.

Nakatani, who won the Strub last year with Golden Eagle Farm's Event of the Year, became the first jockey to win consecutive runnings of the race since Bill Harmatz in 1957-'58.

Mabee, becoming the first owner to win three Strubs in its 53-year history, saw Event of the Year return to run a game second between Free House and Silver Charm in the Santa Anita Handicap last year. He is hoping that the Big 'Cap will be a repeat of 1992, when his homebred gelding Best Pal won both races.

Vicente upset

David Wilson of Laguna Beach, California, races in orange silks in deference to his booming Orange County automobile dealership, Toyota of Orange.

During the last four years, Wilson and his wife, Holly, have also built a sizable Thoroughbred stable of nearly 40.

San Vicente S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 5, $150,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:22.18

1-ARCHER CITY SLEW, c. 3, Slew City Slew-I'm Yours Joe, by Miswaki.
2-Joopy Doopy, c. 3, Gilded Time-Joop, by Zilzal.
3-Gibson County, c. 3, In Excess (Ire)-Miss Gibson County, by Winrightt.

Earlier on the February 5 card, the couple saw Archer City Slew carry those orange silks to the couple's biggest victory, a triumph in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) for three-year-olds.

"Our first graded stakes win," said a beaming Wilson, the son of a professional cowboy. They had previously won the Skywalker Handicap twice (1998 and '99) with Musical Gambler.

The Wilsons purchased Archer City Slew privately in Northern California in December after he won two of seven starts there. "If he wins one more of these, we'll be about even," said trainer Vladimir Cerin when asked about the price.

Archer City Slew, a Kentucky-bred son of Slew City Slew, rallied from third in the stretch to outfinish pacesetters Joopy Doopy and Gibson County. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Archer City Slew covered seven furlongs in 1:22.18 as the 9.60-to-1 fourth choice to edge Joopy Doopy by a neck, with Gibson County another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Malabar Gold, the 1.30-to-1 favorite, finished fourth, another 5 1/2 lengths back.

Archer City Slew recorded his third victory in nine starts and more than doubled his earnings to $147,834. Cerin said he planned to stretch the colt out around two turns for the first time in his next start.

San Antonio revenge

An hour before the $300,000 San Antonio Handicap (G2) on February 6, Budroyale's selection as 1999 California-bred Horse of the Year was announced.

The rags-to-riches seven-year-old gelding responded as though he had designs on North America's Horse of the Year title this year by notching a 1 1/4-length victory over Cat Thief in the San Antonio and reversing the finish order in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 6.

"It was nice to be able to turn the tables," owner Jeffrey Sengara said. "I thought Bud was an unlucky second that day. He got bumped around between horses significantly."

San Antonio H. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 6, $300,000, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:48.70

1-BUDROYALE, g. 7, Cee's Tizzy-Cee's Song, by Seattle Song.
2-Cat Thief, c. 4, Storm Cat-Train Robbery, by Alydar.
3-Elaborate, h. 5, Gilded Time-Jeanie's Gift, by Gulch.

Budroyale, ridden by Garrett Gomez, rallied on the outside from fourth in a field of five at the far turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and held off the belated bid of Cat Thief, who closed well from last.

Elaborate, making his first start in a graded stakes after four straight victories, finished third, another 1 1/2 lengths farther back, and a half-length in front of Moore's Flat. San Pasqual Handicap (G2) winner Dixie Dot Com, the 1.70-to-1 second choice behind Cat Thief, also 1.70-to-1, faded to last in the stretch after stalking the pace.

Budroyale, the 2-to-1 third choice under highweight of 121 pounds, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.70 in his prep for an intriguing Santa Anita Handicap that should be headed by him, Cat Thief, and General Challenge. Budroyale recorded his 18th victory in 46 starts and raised his earnings to $2,649,810.

"Garrett has always said he thought Bud's best distance was a mile and a quarter," said trainer Ted H. "Teddy" West, 26. "I thought General Challenge was impressive in the Strub, but we've beaten him two-for-two." Jockey Pat Day said that Cat Thief struggled with the track surface.

La Canada Scholar

Owner-breeder Ed Nahem entered Scholars Studio in both the $150,000 Pro Or Con Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares on turf February 5 and the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (G2) for four-year-old fillies on the main track the following day. He opted for the dirt race.

Nahem, who races under the name King Edward Racing, then watched his 4.70-to-1 Scholars Studio lead all the way for a three-quarter-length victory over 4-to-5 favorite Smooth Player in 1:49.14 for 1 1/8 miles. The Seven Seas rallied to finish third in her dirt debut, another three lengths back.

"This race had a lot less speed and I always thought she wanted to go longer," Nahem said of his decision.

La Canada S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 6, $200,000, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:49.14

1-SCHOLARS STUDIO, f. 4, Bertrando-Inola Gray, by Graustark.
2-Smooth Player, f. 4, Bertrando-Shy Pirate, by Pirate's Bounty.
3-The Seven Seas, f. 4, El Gran Senor-Tiffany's Gem, by Effervescing.

Scholars Studio went to the sidelines for 11 months last January after four setbacks as a maiden on the main track, but she then returned with two grass victories in as many starts in December and January.

"She's done a lot in six weeks," said trainer Marty Jones, 28, after recording one of his biggest victories. "We were very high on her last year; we ran her in a stakes race as a maiden. We gave her time off because of a little crack in a hind pastern, and she's come back really well." Nakatani rode Scholars Studio.

FINISH LINES-Here's to You, a four-year-old filly who captured the Miesque Stakes (G3) in 1998, scored a two-length victory over Dusty Heather in the $150,000 Pro Or Con Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares. The daughter of Bertrando covered a mile on turf in 1:35.07 for McCarron and trainer Patrick Gallagher. É Laffit Pincay rode Fabulous Guy to a 14.40-to-1 upset victory in the $76,500 Reb's Policy Handicap for trainer Ian Jory, edging El Cielo by a neck in 1:12.06 for about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. The victory raised Pincay's career-leading total to 8,864.

Steve Schuelein is a Southern California correspondent of Thoroughbred Times.