Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park : Adored Retains Her Title Against a Short Field

There is no simple explanation for enduring excellence, no pat answer for distinguishing the brilliant artisan from a journeyman.

But as he stood in the jockey’s room after Saturday’s 10th race at Hollywood Park, one could almost begin to understand why jockey Laffit Pincay continues to be one of the finest riders in thoroughbred racing. The 117-pound Pincay has muscular arms. Even at rest, their power is unmistakable. Pincay also has huge hands, which have played a key in his winning 6,112 races in a 21-year career. And these hands so effortlessly coaxed a mare named Adored into the winner’s circle in Saturday’s $100,000-added Milady Handicap, making it appear more like a stroll rather than a stakes record 1:33 3/5 for a mile on the dirt.

The victory duplicated the duos’ work of a year ago, and allowed Adored, trained by Laz Barrera, to become only the second filly or mare in the history of the 34th running of the race to defend her title. A Gleam turned the trick in 1952 and 1953. Adored paid $4.00 and $2.60. There was no show betting.

But more than anything else, what may have kept Pincay on the top of his extremely dangerous profession, is his courage and imperturbability.

In Saturday’s third race with only a few strides remaining to the wire, Pincay’s mount, Jimbo’s Ace, had a narrow lead over Rompin’ Rude. Suddenly, Jimbo’s Ace began to lug toward the rail, forcing Pincay to briefly grab hold. The reaction cost Jimbo’s Ace a win in a photo finish.

The crowd of 26,711 fans booed Pincay after it watched the replay. The harassment and invectives continued through the fifth race, even though Pincay brought home the winner, Lucky Flor.

“No it doesn’t really bother me,” Pincay said of the crowd’s reaction. “They can scream and yell all they want. I’ve been booed before, and I know I’ll be booed again.

“We were coming down the stretch, and my horse started to lug in really bad. He was hurt. Another horse would have gone on to win. But he was hurt. I got a neck ahead and then I heard a jock holler, ‘Lookout!’

“So, I had to take hold ‘cause I thought I was going to injure someone on the rail, and then my horse decided not to run. I didn’t want to get days for being careless. I wanted to protect myself and the jock inside of me.

“But it’s stupid to think I would pull a horse in a $10,000 race. I always ride to win.”

There was no horse on the inside, but Pincay could be excused because as he moved into the stretch, he had passed Count the House, who was on the rail. In addition, Jimbo’s Ace has a history of knee problems--after a race at Santa Anita he left the track in the van--and looked very much like he was going down Saturday.

The hazing was a minor annoyance for the 38-year-old Pincay, who fights a daily battle with his weight, and recently had to deal with the recent suicide of his wife, Linda.

But the proud, soft-spoken man, who broke his maiden aboard Huelen at Presidente Remon in Panama on May 19, 1964, has endured.

Now he stands at the threshold of another milestone, $100 million in purses won. Only one man, Bill Shoemaker, has climbed that mountain before.

Even Pincay is surprised by his longevity.

“I’ve been lucky to get some good horses along the way,” he said. “But when I started I never thought I’d go this far.

“Honestly, when I think of everything I’ve had to go through, I’m surprised at my accomplishments. I never thought I’d last this long. I thought I’d be finished when I was 30 or 31. But I’m still here.”

Although it meant a longer day, Pincay enjoyed the fact that the Milady, burdened by a four-horse field, was made the card’s 10th race. “I really like it because you know it’s the last race of the day and I can get dressed and go home,” he said, with a smile. “You concentrate better, knowing the last race is the big one.”

Racing Notes

Lovlier Linda finished second and returned $2.80 to place in the Milady Handicap, a Grade II event. Mitterand finished third and Agitated Miss fourth in the abbreviated field. . . . Laffit Pincay is closing in on two marks. Pincay has won $99,583,259 in purses. More remarkably, he is less than $2 million behind the all-time leader, Bill Shoemaker, who has earnings of $101,501,420. Pincay has won 6,112 races, Shoemaker 8,473. . . . A field of six will go to the post this afternoon in the $100,000-added Inglewood Handicap. The Grade III event will cover 1 1/16 miles on the turf.