General Challenge bests Budroyale in soggy Santa Anita Handicap

They came back to the winner's circle dirty. Mud covered the white stockings, white saddlecloth, and big white blaze of General Challenge and streaked the face and burgundy and gold silks of jockey Corey Nakatani.

Santa Anita H. (G1)
Santa Anita Park, March 4, $1,000,000, 11/4 miles, good, 2:01.49
1-GENERAL CHALLENGE, g. 4, General Meeting-Excellent Lady, by Smarten.
2-Budroyale, g. 7, Cee's Tizzy-Cee's Song, by Seattle Song.
3-Puerto Madero (Chi), h. 6, Gallantsky-=Paty Game (Chi), by Saratoga Game.

Nobody ever said it should be easy to win the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap (G1), the piece de resistance of the Santa Anita Park meet and winter highlight of the West.

General Challenge, whose heart and maturity had been questioned, and Nakatani, who had finished second in this race the last three years, overcame a steady diet of mud kicked back at them to authoritatively capture the 63rd running of the Big 'Cap before a crowd of 30,122 under threatening clouds.

Seventh in the field of eight straightening into the backstretch, Nakatani bided his time aboard the strapping chestnut gelding, who unleashed a powerful four-wide move around the far turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and went on to a 1 1/4-length victory over 122-pound highweight Budroyale. The 2-to-1 favorite and second highweight at 121, General Challenge stopped the timer at 2:01.49 for the 1 1/4 miles on a track listed as good.

Puerto Madero (Chi) (118) closed strongly to finish third, another length back and 1 1/2 lengths in front of Malek (Chi). Bagshot finished fifth, followed in order by early pacesetter and 2.20-to-1 second choice Cat Thief, Invitato Mio (Brz), and Dixie Dot Com.

Unlike the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) on October 16 during the Oak Tree meet, when General Challenge was unable to get by Budroyale in a stretch-long duel, the winner whizzed by so quickly at the top of the stretch that Budroyale never knew what hit him.

"If you want to beat a horse like Budroyale-who is such a warrior-you've just got to whoosh by him," said General Challenge's trainer, Bob Baffert. "You can't engage a horse like that. He just fights and fights."

Nakatani, who guided General Challenge to a come-from-behind, 9 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Strub Stakes (G2) on February 5 in his first ride on the Golden Eagle Farm homebred, apparently fits General Challenge like a glove.

"This horse has been such a goof, yet he's such a good horse," said Baffert. "Corey rides with a lot of confidence, and the horse relaxes unbelievably for him. General Challenge has run two big races in a row and is finally showing that he's the great horse I've been bragging about."

Nakatani, 29, is off to the best start of his career and leads the nation with more than $3.3-million in purse earnings. "I've been watching tapes of Shoemaker and Longden, and the main thing is to let the horse run his race, and if he's good enough, he'll win," Nakatani said. "The key to General Challenge is to get him to break cleanly and get into stride. The confidence I have in him may help him a little, but he's got a great engine and is maturing."

While Nakatani won his first Big 'Cap in eight tries and Baffert captured his first after being forced to scratch Silver Charm with a bruised foot two years ago and finishing third with him last year, Golden Eagle Farm owners John and Betty Mabee were celebrating for the second time.

The San Diego couple won for the first time in 1992 with Best Pal, also a homebred gelding who had romped in the Strub in his previous race. "They were very different horses, but I think this guy (General Challenge) probably has more ability," said John Mabee. "I hope with a few more races like this, this white-legged character will get as big a fan club as Best Pal had."

Mabee and Baffert agreed that General Challenge would be sent out of state again despite disappointing results in three previous journeys to major races, including the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), last year. "He will win outside of California," said Mabee confidently. "We've got a better handle on him now. Corey has found his number."

Best Pal remains the top California-bred earner with $5,668,245, but the one-two Cal-bred finish by General Challenge and Budroyale enabled them to pad their earnings. Budroyale is fifth on the list with $2,849,810, while General Challenge-earning $600,000 with his ninth victory in 15 starts-moved up to sixth with $2,596,920.

Budroyale, the 2.90-to-1 third choice, turned in another game effort for owner Jeffery Sengara, jockey Garrett Gomez, and 26-year-old trainer Ted H. West. "He runs his race every time, and no other horse in the country does that," said West. "He dueled with Cat Thief-a great horse-and put him away. Bud's paying his way. He's an amazing horse-he's seven, and he's at the top of his game."

Trainer Richard Mandella, recovering from a serious spinal injury suffered while jet-skiing in Barbados, said he was happy that both Puerto Madero and Malek ran well for the first time in several months.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Cat Thief could not handle the moisture-laden track.

General Challenge, who with the win vaulted atop the 2000 earnings list with $919,020, took the lead in the NTRA Champions on Fox standings with 16 points. He is followed by Behrens with 14; Budroyale, 12; Stephen Got Even, ten; Adonis, six; Golden Missile, six; Cat Thief, four; Luftikus, four; Puerto Madero, four; With Anticipation, four; Elaborate, two; and Saint's Honor, two.

War Chant wins again

The chant continues to grow louder for owners-breeders Irving and Marjorie Cowan of Hollywood, Florida: "Derby! Derby! Derby!"

San Rafael S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, March 4, $200,000, 1 mile, good, 1:36.45
1-WAR CHANT, c. 3, Danzig-Hollywood Wildcat, by Kris S.
2-Archer City Slew, c. 3, Slew City Slew-I'm Yours Joe, by Miswaki.
3-Cocky, c. 3, Valiant Nature-Impertinent Lady, by Sham.

War Chant, the couple's highly regarded colt, remained unbeaten in three starts and enhanced his Triple Crown credentials on March 4 with a half-length victory in the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (G2) for three-year-olds at one mile.

"I was worried today," admitted Irving Cowan after the colt's third victory following an improvised February training schedule compromised by an abundance of rain and resulting muddy tracks. "He had to skip around. He hadn't had the best of it."

Jockey Kent Desormeaux capitalized on an opening along the rail to snatch the lead from Archer City Slew midway down the backstretch. Archer City Slew fought back on the outside and reached even terms at the top of the stretch before Desormeaux asked the 1-to-2 favorite for his best. War Chant inched clear despite being spooked by an NTRA Champions on Fox sign under the rail inside the sixteenth pole.

By Danzig out of the Cowans' 1993 champion three-year-old filly Hollywood Wildcat, War Chant covered the mile on a good track in 1:36.45. David and Holly Wilson's San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Archer City Slew, the 3.50-to-1 second choice, finished second, a neck in front of Cocky, who was another neck in front of Commendable.

"He showed some mettle, and that's what we're looking for," said War Chant's trainer, Neil Drysdale. "We needed to get some serious racing under his belt. The track was not at its best, so it looks like he can handle an off track. I was concerned how tiring it would be."

War Chant, who probably will return in the $1-million Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on April 8, is following a trail similar to the one Drysdale employed for A.P. Indy. After winning the 1992 San Rafael and Santa Anita Derby, A.P. Indy was scratched as the Kentucky Derby (G1) morning-line favorite with a bruised foot the morning of the race, but won the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and was named Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt.

Drysdale also trains Fusaichi Pegasus, an impressive winner of his last two starts and a probable starter in the $250,000 San Felipe Handicap (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on March 19.

"It's not easy trying two turns for the first time against horses like these," said Vladimir Cerin, trainer of Archer City Slew. "It was a good try, and he should move forward."

Bobby Frankel sounded as cocky as the name of the third-place finisher he trains-Cocky. "He missed a little training, and he got beat by what, about a length?" said Frankel. "He'll be running over the top of them next time, and I know he can get the distance."

Pistol fires

Son of a Pistol had fired so many blanks during the past ten months that skeptics wondered if the eight-year-old gelding would ever win another race.

San Carlos H. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, March 4, $161,550, 7 furlongs, good, 1:22.11
1-SON OF A PISTOL, g. 8, Big Pistol-Mood Swing, by J. O. Tobin.
2-Kona Gold, g. 6, Java Gold-Double Sunrise, by Slew o' Gold.
3-Old Topper, h. 5, Gilded Time-Shy Trick, by Phone Trick.

Trainer Bruce Headley kept the faith, however, and was vindicated on March 4 when Son of a Pistol out-dueled more-heralded stablemate Kona Gold through the stretch for a nose victory in the $161,550 San Carlos Handicap (G2). Son of a Pistol finished the seven furlongs in 1:22.11 over a track listed as good.

Old Topper finished third, 2 1/2 lengths back.

While crossing the finish line, Son of a Pistol snapped a seven-race losing streak since capturing the Los Angeles Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park last May.

"He nearly died after he choked on some hay after winning the Los Angeles Handicap, and it really messed up his throat," said Headley. "I think it has taken him this long to get over it."

Son of a Pistol, carrying 117 pounds including Gomez, took a short lead inside Kona Gold down the backstretch and stayed there to just prevail after a fierce stretch duel. Kona Gold carried highweight of 122 and jockey Alex Solis. The entry went off as the 2-to-5 favorite.

Headley enjoyed the luxury of not needing to worry about the outcome of the tight photo. The victory was Son of a Pistol's 11th in 24 career starts and raised his earnings to $818,880. He finished third in the 1998 San Carlos.

Kona Gold, winner of the Palos Verdes Handicap (G2) in his last start and who finished second in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and third in the '98 Sprint, settled for second in the San Carlos for the second straight year. Last year, he finished a half-length behind Big Jag.

Big Jag passed on defending that victory to prepare for the $1-million Dubai Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) undercard on March 25 at Nad al Sheba race course. That should leave the door open for the Headley duo to dominate the $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 8 at Santa Anita.

Recycling veterans to win the San Carlos is old hat for Headley. He won the race with Softshoe Sure Shot, a nine-year-old, in 1995.

Riboletta's Santa Margarita

When Aaron Jones transferred his stable from Baffert to Eduardo Inda in January, he established a South American connection between Brazilian-bred mare Riboletta (Brz) and Chilean-born Inda.

Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1)
Santa Anita Park, March 5, $300,000, 11/8 miles, sloppy, 1:50.40
1-RIBOLETTA (Brz), m. 5, Roi Normand-=Joy Valley (Brz), by =Ghadeer (Fr).
2-Bordelaise (Arg), m. 5, =Espacial (Arg)-=Maconnaisse (Arg), by *Keats.
3-Snowberg, m. 5, Seattle Sleet-Ridan Prospector, by Mr. Prospector.

The connection produced a fast major payoff on March 5 when Riboletta pulled a minor upset by leading all the way to capture the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) for fillies and mares on a sloppy track.

"Eduardo understands these horses and their temperament," said Oregon lumberman Jones as he stood in the winner's circle with wife Marie.

Inda did not mind the latest downpour of a wet Southern California winter. "I wanted to see the track a little slower," said Inda. "When (Brazilian-born trainer) A. C. Avila sold this filly to Mr. Jones, he said that she won on a good track in Brazil."

Nakatani, completing a weekend sweep of Grade 1 stakes, broke from the rail with the mare in the field of five and accepted the lead at the first turn when neither Gourmet Girl nor Snowberg outside him wanted the front.

Riboletta drew off at the far turn and went on to a three-length victory over Bordelaise (Arg), who is trained by Inda's old boss and mentor, Racing Hall of Fame member Ron McAnally. Snowberg, the 7-to-5 favorite, finished third, another four lengths back. Ta Ta Be True and Gourmet Girl completed the field.

Riboletta covered the Santa Margarita's 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.40 under 115 pounds as the 5.80-to-1 fourth betting choice. Riboletta became the tenth South American-bred horse to win the meet's distaff championship event in 63 runnings, and the first from Brazil.

Inda, 57, recorded the third Grade 1 victory of his career and the most signficant. The two others, interestingly, also came in this series-the 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (G1) with Toga Toga Toga and the 1999 Santa Maria Handicap (G1) with India Divina (Chi), when he also beat a McAnally trainee, Victory Stripes (Arg). India Divina came back to run third in the Santa Margarita.

Riboletta, making her second start for Inda, scored her second United States victory in nine starts and her first here in stakes company. Winner of the 1998 Brazilian Oaks (Brz-G1), Riboletta recorded her seventh victory in 20 starts and nearly doubled her earnings to $360,093.

Nakatani recorded his fourth Santa Margarita victory in eight years. "Eduardo told me he had been able to train her in the mud and that she liked it," he said. "She stays really well and extended nicely." Trainer John Shirreffs skipped the race with defending Santa Margarita winner Manistique.

Commitisize's Arcadia

Baffert capped a can-do-no-wrong weekend by sending out Commitisize for a wire-to-wire victory in the $200,000 Arcadia Handicap (G3) on March 5 on a sloppy main track after rain forced the race off the turf. Because of surface change, the Arcadia was automatically downgraded from a Grade 2.

Arcadia H. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, March 5, $200,000, 1 mile, turf, sloppy, 1:36.61
1-COMMITISIZE, h. 5, Explodent-Goodbye Heart, by Tsunami Slew.
2-Chullo (Arg), h. 6, Equalize-=Que Ilusion (Arg), by =Cipayo (Arg).
3-Sultry Substitute, g. 5, Sultry Song-Ersatz, by Clever Trick.

"I was going to scratch because I couldn't shoe him for the mud," Baffert said of the lone starter in the field of six not wearing mud calks. "I was worried he was going to slip and slide, but I guess he didn't.

"I was going to scratch Squall City, too, in the La Habra Stakes two days ago because that race stayed on the turf, but I didn't, and she won," Baffert said and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just hitting. I'm having one of those weekends."

Commitisize, a five-year-old horse owned by Mike Pegram, was so anxious that he popped the gate open before the start. He was not fazed by the incident and broke on top at the start. He led all the way under Victor Espinoza and held on for a half-length victory over 7-to-5 favorite Chullo (Arg). Sultry Substitute finished third, another four lengths back.

"I told Victor that if he needs more than one set of goggles, he's in trouble," said Baffert of the front-runner. "If Commitisize gets things his way, he's tough. And he likes mud."

Baffert turned down an offer to retire Commitisize to stud in Florida this year. The Kentucky-bred son of Explodent covered the muddy mile in 1:36.61 as the 4-to-1 third choice and raised his earnings to $716,261 with his ninth victory in 27 starts. Although 20 of his starts have been on turf, Commitisize won the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) on the main track in 1997.

Baffert said that Commitisize would make his next start in the Buick Turf Classic at Lone Star Park on April 16.

FINISH LINES-Jockey Chris Antley, in his first full week back since the Breeders' Cup, guided Squall City to a 1 1/2-length victory over favored Classic Olympio in the $109,650 La Habra Stakes for three-year-old fillies in 1:13.99 for about 6 1/2 furlongs over the firm hillside turf course on March 3. Squall City, a daughter of Carson City making her grass bow for Baffert and owner Martin Cherry, won for the third time in six career starts. ... Jerry Bailey has been named to ride Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Eclipse Award winner Anees in his seasonal debut in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 19. Anees worked seven furlongs in 1:27.40 on March 2. Bailey tabbed veteran West Coast agent Ron Anderson to handle his book, replacing longtime agent Bob Frieze. John DeSantis has taken over for Antley, who was represented by Anderson. ... Surfside, prohibitive favorite for the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on March 12, worked six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 between races on March 4.