Fusaichi Pegasus notches an impressive victory over The Deputy and champion Anees

Part of his name-"ichi"-in Japanese, means the best or number one, and Fusaichi Pegasus certainly lived up to his name in winning Santa Anita Park's $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) by a solid three-quarters of a length on March 19.

San Felipe S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, March 19, $250,000, 11/16 miles, fast, 1:42.66
1-FUSAICHI PEGASUS, c. 3, Mr. Prospector-Angel Fever, by Danzig.
2-The Deputy (Ire), c. 3, =Petardia (GB)-Manfath (Ire), by Last Tycoon (Ire).
3-Anees, c. 3, Unbridled-Ivory Idol, by Alydar.

And since "Fusa" is most of the first name of owner Fusao Sekiguchi, a Japanese businessman and racing enthusiast, the powerfully built Mr. Prospector colt did his owner proud. The colt also earned back a piece of his $4-million yearling purchase price.

The victory came under a confident hand ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has ridden the big bay colt in his last three outings, all victories. His time for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track was a solid 1:42.66.

Desormeaux had nothing but praise for the winner. "He's got a world of talent. Today, he did it well in hand. He just inhaled them on the turn. The most impressive thing about his race today was his ability to get comfortable with a horse in front and his talent to hold off the closers with plenty left. He really was awesome."

Desormeaux had Fusaichi Pegasus stalking early leader Commendable from the outside. Even though Commendable drew out to more than a two-length lead as they began the turn for home, the winner seemed to have him measured all the way. Fusaichi Pegasus made his winning move at the quarter-mile marker and sailed past Commendable with ease.

A game The Deputy (Ire) went with him, and Anees, the 1999 juvenile champion making his first start of the year, began his run. The Deputy, with Chris McCarron urging him lustily, tried hard but could not close the gap on the easy traveling Fusaichi Pegasus, who never felt the whip. Anees, with Jerry Bailey in the irons for the first time, outfinished Commendable by a head for the third spot, three lengths behind The Deputy.

"He ran very well," McCarron said of The Deputy. "He stumbled a bit leaving the gate and got off a little slow, but he had good position. He climbed for about 50 yards once the dirt hit him in the face. Then he leveled because he got used to it. That's a good sign." Trainer Jenine Sahadi echoed McCarron's judgment. "I thought he ran well. We'll take one day at a time," she said, but indicated his next start would be in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8.

Neil Drysdale, who trains Fusaichi Pegasus, was elated with the victory and the prospect of having two colts who are looking so much like Kentucky Derby (G1) runners. The other is San Rafael Stakes (G2) winner War Chant. "But they're not there yet," he said with a chuckle. "The only other time I get there, I really didn't get there," referring to A.P. Indy, who was scratched on Derby day in 1992 because of a bruised hoof. In a more serious vein, Drysdale said: "Things are looking good for both of them, and, touch wood, they're both sound. And they're both talented."

"I don't see any reason to run them together," Drysdale said, adding that War Chant's next start will come in the Santa Anita Derby and Fusaichi Pegasus could start in either the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct or the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course, both on April 15.

His reasoning? "Fusaichi Pegasus is a bigger horse, and it's probably more favorable for him to run on an Eastern track," the trainer said. "War Chant is a lightly framed horse and would do better out here. And the timing is right. The Wood and the Blue Grass are on the 15th and that gives him (Fusaichi Pegasus) another week."

A third-place finish does not usually inspire a whole lot enthusiasm, but both rider Bailey and trainer Alex Hassinger were complimentary of Anees's effort. "First time back, he was a little rusty mentally. I thought he closed pretty well. He didn't close much ground from the sixteenth pole home, but you figure he might get a little empty at that point. I thought it was a good race. This is what you want to see first time back."

Hassinger agreed. "I'm very happy the way he ran. He closed some ground. He'll move forward from this, and I think the longer the races, the better. He'll run in the Santa Anita Derby," Hassinger said.

Dark Moondancer's San Luis Rey

Tracking a pedestrian pace set by Foggy Day (Fr), Dark Moondancer (GB) nonetheless swooped to the lead three wide with a quarter-mile to go and desperately held off a massive closing drive by Single Empire (Ire) to win the $250,000 San Luis Rey Handicap (G2) by a scant nose on March 18.

San Luis Rey S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, March 18, $250,000, 11/2 miles, turf, firm, 2:26
1-DARK MOONDANCER (GB), h. 5, Anshan (GB)-=Oh So Well (Ire), by Sadler's Wells.
2-Single Empire (Ire), h. 6, =Kris (GB)-Captive Island (Ire), by Northfields.
3-Bonapartiste (Fr), h. 6, =Kendor (Fr)-Fab's Melody, by Devil's Bag

The five-year-old son of Anshan (GB), trained by Ron McAnally for owner Charles Cella, traveled the 1 1/2 miles on the firm Santa Anita turf course in 2:26 as the heavy 2-to-5 favorite. Runner-up Single Empire got high grades from trainer Drysdale, who called the effort "a lovely race for him. We're on target. The next stop is the San Juan Capistrano (Invitational Handicap [G1] at 1 3/4 miles)." That race is scheduled for April 22, and it figures to draw Dark Moondancer for a rerun of the San Luis Rey.

McCarron said he thought Dark Moondancer figured to be very fit off his previous race, "and it's a good thing he was because he had to fight hard. Single Empire made a great run at him, but this horse just pinned his ears and showed a lot of determination." Trainer McAnally picked up the third spot in the race also with Bonapartiste (Fr).

Mike Smith honored

Jockey Mike Smith came to Santa Anita primarily to receive the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, presented on March 19. But Smith got his weekend rolling in a big way by finishing tops individually and leading the United States jockey team to victory over Team Europe in the British Airways International Jockey Challenge. The rider compiled 23 points from two victories and a third in the four set aside for the Challenge.

Still, his focus was on the Woolf Award. "Any time you can get an award that's voted on by your peers, it's a very special honor. I didn't think I would get that emotional over it, but I got pretty caught up in it," Smith said.

As for leading Team USA to victory, "That was just icing on the cake," he said.

The winners scored 56 points to Team Europe's 28 as the Americans won three races. McCarron, who scored 13 points, captured the other race for Team USA. Michael Kinane posted the only victory for the Europeans. Kinane finished second and fifth in other races to post 16 points.

Joining Smith and McCarron on Team USA were Pat Day and Laffit Pincay Jr. Along with Kinane, Team Europe boasted Frankie Dettori, Kieren Fallon, and Gerald Mosse.