Bob Baffert-trained gelding scores first stakes win over reigning Horse of the Year in Strub Stakes

Longtime Texas racehorse owner Jim Helzer is best known as the owner of Refrigerator, the all-time leading money earning Quarter Horse who was named the American Quarter Horse Association's World Champion in 1992 and '93.

Strub S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 3, $500,000, 1 1/8 miles, fast, 1:48.43
1-WOODEN PHONE, g. 4, Pick Up the Phone-Teaksberry Road, by High Honors.
2-Tiznow, c. 4, Cee's Tizzy-Cee's Song, by Seattle Song.
3-Jimmy Z, c. 4, Fly So Free-Secondfromthetop, by Fappiano.

On February 3, Helzer became associated with the most shocking upset of the new year in Thoroughbred racing when Wooden Phone turned back Tiznow to win the $500,000 Strub Stakes (G2) for four-year-olds by two lengths. Favored at 3-to-10, Tiznow had been named 2000 Horse of the Year only four days earlier.

"I probably didn't think we would upset Tiznow, but I've been racing horses for 40 years," said Helzer under the warm sun in the winner's circle. That time span is long enough to learn that anything is possible in horse racing. "If you run enough, you're going to get outrun," said Helzer.

Jay Robbins, the trainer of Tiznow, remembered that the Strub has a rich heritage of similar upsets. Before winning the race twice with Nostalgia's Star in 1986 and Flying Continental in 1990, Robbins recalled rubbing horses for trainer Gene Cleveland in the late 1960s before going on his own. During that time, Most Host-trained by Cleveland and co-owned by Robbins' parents, Jack and Maggie-pulled off a shocker of parallel magnitude with an improbable 12.20-to-1 triumph in the 1968 Strub over Damascus, the 1-to-5 favorite and reigning Horse of the Year.

Damascus had beaten Most Host in a previous meeting in the San Fernando Stakes by two lengths, the same margin that Tiznow enjoyed over third-placed Wooden Phone in winning the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) on January 13.

History does repeat itself. This day belonged to Wooden Phone, who controlled a moderate pace and covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.43 as the 7.20-to-1 third choice. Jockey Corey Nakatani won the Strub for an unprecedented third consecutive time.

Tiznow, who broke from the outside post in the field of six under highweight of 123 poundsTsix more than his rivalsTstalked the pace three and four wide under Chris McCarron but was unable to catch the winner after a half in :47.35. Jimmy Z finished third, another 3 1/2 lengths back.

"He didn't fire like he has in the past," said Robbins of Tiznow, who had won four straight races, including the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). "He didn't really punch it in. Chris said he was close enough, but from the three-eighths pole home, he just kind of galloped."

Co-owner Michael Cooper accepted the defeat graciously. "He didn't disgrace himself," said Cooper. "He gave the other horse six pounds, and we didn't think they would all be easy. He's a marvelous horse, and we should get a better weight now for the Big 'Cap (the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap [G1] on March 3.)"

Third win for Baffert

Assistants Tim Yakteen and Jim Barnes deputized for trainer Bob Baffert-who was in Florida with Donn Handicap (G1) winner Captain Steve-saddling Wooden Phone and Tribunal, who finished fourth.

Baffert won the Strub for the third time in four years and tied Charlie Whittingham, Laz Barrera, and Willie Molter as the only three-time winners of the race.

"Bob's strategy was just to have Corey get Wooden Phone out there and keep him comfortable," said Yakteen. "I think he was pressured more on the pace in his last race."

Helzer, who lives in Arlington, Texas, said he had known Baffert for 20 years in the Quarter Horse business, but only branched into Thoroughbreds with the Arizona-born trainer five years ago. Helzer won his first major Thoroughbred race with Joe Who (Brz) in the 1999 Eddie Read Handicap (G1) at Del Mar. That victory led to the purchase of Wooden Phone.

"I had just talked to a friend of mine from Texas, Tom Durant, who asked where I got these horses after I won the Eddie Read," said Helzer. "Bob had just gotten a tape of Wooden Phone winning a two-year-old race at Calder a week earlier and learned he was for sale. I told Tom I would send him the tape to look at. He said not to bother, that if I bought the horse, he would like to be my partner."

Thus Helzer and his wife, Marilyn, bought half of the horse, and Durant bought the other half. Bred in Florida by T. Wynn Jolley and Mary Jolley, Wooden Phone is by the Phone Trick stallion Pick Up the Phone out of Teaksberry Road, by High Honors. Winning his third race in nine career starts and his first in stakes company, the gelding more than tripled his earnings to $406,136.

Last March, Wooden Phone fractured a tibia while finishing second by a nose to David Copperfield in an allowance race here and went to the sidelines for eight months. He returned with a sharp allowance score at Hollywood Park and strong third-place finishes in the Malibu (G1) and San Fernando Stakes, the first two legs of the Strub series.

Helzer, who is in the roofing material distribution business, owns JEH Stallion Station in Pilot Point, Texas. Durant, from Granbury, Texas, is a Chevrolet dealer. Years from now, they can tell their grandchildren about that February afternoon in 2001 when they upset the Horse of the Year.

Early Flyer runs late

"The change of strategy worked," said trainer Ron McAnally, greeting owner Verne H. Winchell on the mezzanine steps en route to the winner's circle after homebred Early Flyer upset previously unbeaten Lasersport by a neck in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) for three-year-olds on February 3.

San Vicente S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 3, $150,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:21.51
1-EARLY FLYER, c. 3, Gilded Time-Bistra, by Classic Go Go.
2-Lasersport, c. 3, Gilded Time-Beamy, by Forty Niner.
3-D'wildcat, c. 3, Forest Wildcat-D'Enough, by D'Accord.

"We didn't see any sense in trying to go (early) with him again, so we tried to take him back," said Winchell after Early Flyer carried Winchell's maroon and white VHW Stables silks to his first stakes victory in 1:21.51 for seven furlongs.

Early Flyer, ridden by McCarron, rallied from fourth as the 5.60-to-1 third choice and outfinished Laserport, the 4-to-5 favorite, in a duel of sons of Gilded Time. D'wildcat, the 2.60-to-1 second choice, finished third, another two lengths back.

Early Flyer had pressed the pace set by Lasersport in the San Miguel Stakes (G3) at six furlongs in their joint last start on January 13 and finished second, two lengths back. The Kentucky-bred chestnut colt, treated with Lasix for the first time, recorded his second victory in four starts and more than doubled his career earnings to $143,700.

"I don't think he is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but he should be able to get a mile," said Winchell, making his first visit of the season to the track from his home in Las Vegas.

McAnally, who has been associated with Winchell for 40 years, won the San Vicente for him in 1991 with multiple stakes winner Olympio. "I trained this colt's dam, Bistra, a real fast filly," said McAnally. "This colt is more relaxed. His sire won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at a mile and a sixteenth, so, hopefully, he can go that far." McAnally said the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes (G2) at one mile on March 3 would probably be the colt's next start.

"I rode this horse's daddy, Gilded Time, when he won the Breeders' Cup, and although he had speed, he was able to settle down in his races," said McCarron after winning the San Vicente for the third time in five years and fourth time overall. "This colt is much the same way."

San Antonio invasion

Trainer Niall O'Callaghan called Guided Tour a "situational horse" after he shipped the five-year-old Hansel gelding from Louisiana to win the $300,000 San Antonio Handicap (G2) on February 4.

San Antonio H. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, February 4, $, 1 1/8 miles, fast,:
1-GUIDED TOUR, g. 5, Hansel-Dancing Mahmoud, by Topsider.
2-Lethal Instrument, h. 5, Gulch-Running Redhead, by Storm Bird.
3-Moonlight Charger, g. 6, Alysheba-Malibran, by Spectacular Bid.

"He's doing good, and we're avoiding the top horses," said O'Callaghan after Guided Tour rallied from just off the pace under Larry Melancon to defeat Lethal Instrument by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:48.26 for 1 1/8 miles. Moonlight Charger, the longest shot in a field of eight at 66-to-1, finished third, another 3 1/2 lengths back.

"We originally planned to freshen him and sent him to Payson Park in December, but he put on weight and was doing so well that I thought he was telling me to continue on,"

O'Callaghan said. "I was thinking about the Donn (Handicap [G1]) or this. It looks like I picked the right spot, although the way he ran today, he might have beaten Captain Steve (who won the Donn)."

The well-traveled Guided Tour, racing at his ninth different track during the past two years, recorded his ninth victory in 23 starts and raised his career earnings to $760,033 with his biggest triumph in his first Grade 2 victory.

The third time in California was the charm for O'Callaghan, who shipped Guided Tour to Kathy Walsh one week before the race. "This was my first California stakes winner," he said. "Wall Street Dancer finished third in the 1992 San Juan Capistrano Handicap (G1) here, and Witchful Thinking ran out in the (1998) Matriarch (G1) when it poured, and Squeak (GB) won (at Hollywood Park)."

Despite a decimated handicap division, O'Callaghan has no ambitions to shoot higher with Guided Tour in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 4. "I would love to win the New Orleans Handicap ([G3] on March 4), worth $500,000, with him in his next start in four weeks," he said.

Melancon, a 45-year-old Louisiana-born veteran, also won for the first time in California in his second ride in the state. Guided Tour, the 3.40-to-1 second choice, stalked the pace in second most of the way behind pacesetter Deputy Flag before assuming command at the far turn and outfinishing Lethal Instrument in the stretch.

The outcome was good medicine for owner Morton Fink, who was unable to attend the race because of illness and remained home in Chicago.

The disappointment in the race was Freedom Crest, the even-money favorite who faded to last in the stretch. The five-year-old gelding had won three straight races, including the San Pasqual Handicap (G2) in his last start on January 7. "I was getting the trip I wanted, but I was done early," said jockey Gary Stevens. "He dropped back turning into the backstretch and just didn't seem interested. The other day he just dragged me around there."

FINISH LINES-McCarron guided Jeweled Pirate to her first stakes victory in the $150,000 Pro Or Con Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares on February 3, rallying for a three-quarter-length victory over Lazy Slusan in 1:35.13 for one mile on firm turf. Ray Bell trains the four-year-old daughter of Pirate's Bounty for owners Robert and Betty Irvin. ...Martin Pedroza recorded the 2,000th victory of his career in the sixth race on February 2 aboard Sandra's Pride. Victor Espinoza rode the 1,000th winner of his career on February 4 aboard Fonage (GB). Of $641,372 wagered in the show pool in the Strub, $594,556 was bet on Tiznow, creating a minus pool of $103,144.