Mr Purple scores $1 million upset at Santa AnitaThoroughbred racing is lucky to have D. Wayne Lukas, because if he didn't exist, it might be impossible to invent him. His latest achievement is jazzing up Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap, which lost most of its luster last week when Horse of the Year Cigar was withdrawn because of a foot injury.
By entering Serena's Song, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, against older males in the 59th running of the West's most important race, Lukas has made the 1 1/4-mile Big Cap more than just another million-dollar event. "[Serena's Song] takes a vanilla race and puts some chocolate syrup on it," said Lukas, who also was speaking about himself. "She has as good a chance to win as any. We have a lot to gain and very little to lose."
Brave talk, as usual, from the cocky Lukas, but Serena's Song seems up against it despite her brilliant career record and 6-for-6 mark at Santa Anita. She's 0-for-2 at 1 1/4 miles, a distance at which three of her 11 opponents -- Helmsman, Dare And Go and last year's Big Cap winner, Urgent Request -- have won. She also is stuck out in Post 12, which means Gary Stevens may have to use her a bit early to gain a stalking position behind what figures to be a quick pace set by Score Quick, Luthier Fever and Urgent Request. Serena's Song will be the sentimental favorite of many, but Eddie Mac at the Track thinks Lukas' bold experiment will fail. It's glorious to dare to be great, but that's not the way to bet.
Another marquee horse who has distinguished himself at shorter distances but appears not to want 1 1/4 miles is Afternoon Deelites. Like Serena's Song he's 0-for-2 at 10 furlongs and probably will be overbet off his non-threatening second in the Strub.
Stalkers have done well in the Big Cap, and Helmsman and Dare And Go (Posts 4 and 5, respectively) should be able to gain position and make their moves on the final turn, when the tired pacesetters will be looking for oxygen tanks. If you're looking for a live longshot, consider The Key Rainbow. Mike Smith makes a rare trip west to ride a long-winded colt ho won at 1 1/2 miles in Europe. The Key Rainbow is winless on dirt but in his only two tries he was a respectable fifth in the Strub and third in the San Fernando.
The field, from the rail out, with morning-line odds, jockeys and weight assignments:
Urgent Request, 8-1, Laffit Pincay, 117; Afternoon Deelites, 3-1, Kent Desormeaux, 119; Alphabet Soup, 4-1, Chris Antley, 120; Helmsman, 5-2, Chris McCarron, 121; Dare And Go, 10-1, Alex Solis, 118; Just Java, 30-1, Corey Nakatani, 111; Luthier Fever, 20-1, Brent Blanc, 114; The Key Rainbow, 15-1, Smith, 114; Mr Purple, 30-1, Eddie Delahoussaye, 115; Cezind, 30-1, Rene Douglas, 112; Score Quick, 30-1, Martin Pedroza, 115; Serena's Song, 6-1, Stevens, 114.
Eddie Mac at the Track's picks:
1. Dare And Go. 2. Helmsman. 3. The Key Rainbow.
In Saturday's other marquee races, his selections are:
Gulfstream Park Handicap: 1. Mecke. 2. Wekiva Springs. 3. Star Standard.
San Rafael Stakes (Santa Anita): 1. Honour and Glory. 2. Smithfield. 3. Cavonnier.
ESPNET SportsZone's Eddie Mac at the Track, the web's only interactive handicapper, will pick races throughout 1996.
