SANTA ANITA : Paseana No Bayakoa Yet, but She Appears Headed in Right Direction

Whether Paseana is another Bayakoa remains to be seen, but the Argentine mare already has matched her famed predecessor from the Ron McAnally barn in one category.

After Saturday, the two South Americans both have a victory in the Santa Maria Handicap. All Paseana needs now to catch Bayakoa are two Eclipse Awards, a couple of victories in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and about $2.5 million in earnings.

Two years after Bayakoa’s final victory at Santa Anita, Paseana made it three successes in four U.S. starts with a 2 1/2-length victory over Colour Chart and three others.

Ending a 31-race losing streak for jockey Chris McCarron, the 5-year-old daughter of Ahmad looked like she might be in for a battle when Colour Chart made a powerful move around the turn to join her, but she only improved her position from there.

Owned by Sidney and Jenny Craig, the 4-5 favorite covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 4/5 and won her first Grade I stakes in this country. She probably will be heavily favored again when she runs in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap on March 1. Bayakoa won that race in 1989 and 1990.

Making her first start on the main track after spending most of her career in France, Colour Chart, the 3-1 second choice, was nearly two lengths better than stablemate Campagnarde. Then came Laramie Moon and Vieille Vigne. Brought To Mind, Laura Ly, Re Toss and Txindoki were scratched.

“It’s hard to compare (Bayakoa and Paseana), but she’s definitely going in the right direction,” said McCarron, who was undefeated in two appearances on Bayakoa. “This mare has acclimated quickly.

“I was very confident the whole way. I was in front, so I was in a better position (than Gary Stevens on Colour Chart) because I knew I had horse left.”

Stevens also thought he had a good chance when Colour Chart, who was last early, began to move.

“I thought it was just a matter of how far we were going to win by,” he said. “I’ve worked this mare on the dirt in the morning, and the way she had been working, I thought she’d win. Both Chris and I asked them to run at the same time, and (Paseana) sprinted away in a couple of strides--and my mare was really reaching out. I have a lot of respect for the winner.”

Laramie Moon, who was closest to the winner for the first six furlongs, faded through the stretch as the 7-2 third choice. “I thought the race was between Chris and I,” Eddie Delahoussaye said. “(Laramie Moon) was going very easy, but when I asked her, she never dug in. Maybe she just doesn’t want to run this far.”

Best Pal, who turned in the best effort of his 19-race career in the San Fernando Stakes three weeks ago, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for today’s $500,000 Charles H. Strub Stakes.

According to track superintendent Steve Wood, the weather forecast for today is possible drizzle in the morning before a storm hits between 2 and 3 p.m.

The 1 1/4-mile finish to the three-race Strub Series drew nine entrants Friday morning, and a couple of the longshots might run only if it rains.

Taken off the early pace by Kent Desormeaux in the San Fernando, Best Pal joined the leaders while wide down the backstretch, then pulled away in the final furlong to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Olympio is the 5-2 second choice. Second in the San Fernando, the 4-year-old Naskra colt was 5 1/2 lengths clear of Dinard. Delahoussaye will again ride for trainer McAnally.

The rest of the field from the rail out: Bucking Bird (Frank Alvarado, 30-1), Dinard (Pat Valenzuela, 7-2), Charmonnier (Corey Nakatani, 6-1), Reign Road (Stevens, 30-1), Another Review (Laffit Pincay, 8-1), Quintana (McCarron, 20-1) and Ev For Shir (Alex Solis, 20-1).

Three races earlier, Mineral Wells will try to remain perfect in three starts when he makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 added San Vicente Breeders’ Cup Stakes at seven furlongs.

After beating maidens by 7 1/2 lengths Dec. 15 at Hollywood Park, the 3-year-old Mr. Prospector colt returned to win an allowance race at Santa Anita on Jan. 19. Trainer Wayne Lukas’ colt has two workouts since. Lukas also will have Richard Of England in the race.

The other main contenders are San Miguel Stakes winner Prince Wild and Star Of The Crop, who is back sprinting after a disastrous try in the Hollywood Futurity.

Horse Racing Notes

Excavate, who hasn’t started since winning a route race March 17, will return in today’s seventh race, at 6 1/2 furlongs. A winner of two of his four starts, the Mr. Prospector colt has several sharp works for Charlie Whittingham. Chris McCarron will ride. . . . In Excess, who might make his 1992 debut in Saturday’s $300,000 San Antonio Handicap, worked five furlongs in 58 3/5 Saturday morning, the fastest of 67 workouts recorded at the distance.

The victory in the Santa Maria was the first for McCarron since Sharply won the fourth race Jan. 31. . . . Secret Angel, the 7-5 favorite in the seventh race, was pulled up by McCarron at about the three-eighths pole and reportedly suffered a bowed tendon in her right foreleg. . . . The Pick Nine carryover pool reached $495,446 Saturday, meaning that if no one sweeps the card today, there will be a mandatory payout Wednesday.