SANTA ANITA : Wekiva Springs Wins Easily, Looms as a 3-Year-Old Threat

One year after having the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby in River Special, trainer Bob Hess Jr. might have a legitimate contender for the race this year.

Although he has yet to face Brocco and Valiant Nature, the top two Derby prospects in California, Wekiva Springs has done nothing wrong for Hess.

Owned and bred in Florida by Donald Dizney, the gray Runaway Groom colt and 7-10 favorite tracked the moderate pace set by Dream Trapp, then took control early in the stretch and went on to win the $79,650 Santa Catalina Stakes by four lengths. It was his third victory in four starts.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Wekiva Springs covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 4/5. Gracious Ghost outfinished Dream Trapp, the 3-1 second choice, by three-quarters of a length for second. Duca was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth and Heavely Crusade was last.

“To get somebody out of Florida to come here during the earthquakes, you know we have to love this horse and love California,” said Dizney, who was in the winner’s circle with his wife, Irene.

“This is the (pre-Triple Crown) time of year, and of course your dreams are just out of the roof when your horse does as well as he did today.”

The chance to meet Brocco and Valiant Nature could come in the San Rafael Stakes on March 6.

“Unless something unforeseen occurs, that’s where we’ll go,” Hess said. “I still think he has to improve to compete with (Brocco and Valiant Nature), but I think he has that improvement in him. But he definitely hasn’t proven he can beat those, and until he does--and that might be the San Rafael--I won’t be thinking Kentucky Derby until then.”

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All the upset victory by Hill Pass in the $155,300 San Pasqual Handicap did was boost the Santa Anita Handicap stock of Slew Of Damascus.

Dominant in the Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park in his last venture to Southern California, Slew Of Damascus beat Hill Pass in the William P. Kyne Handicap two weeks earlier at Bay Meadows.

The second-longest shot in the field at 15-1 Saturday, Hill Pass beat Best Pal by nearly two lengths in 1:41 for the 1 1/16 miles. Besides Best Pal, who won the Big ‘Cap in 1992, behind the 5-year-old Temperence Hill horse were Santa Anita Handicap hopefuls Lottery Winner, Star Recruit and Ibero, the 2-1 favorite in the San Pasqual.

Trained by Jack Van Berg and ridden by Chris McCarron, Hill Pass won for the second time in eight California starts since returning from a one-year layoff last September at Del Mar.

Best Pal, the 2-1 second choice, beat Lottery Winner by three-quarters of a length in his first race since finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who failed to show for his three mounts on Friday’s card at Santa Anita, was fined $1,000 after meeting with stewards Pete Pedersen, Ingrid Fermin and Tom Ward on Saturday morning.

Valenzuela told the stewards he went to San Diego on Thursday night with his wife and baby daughter to visit his mother-in-law and ran into severe traffic in Del Mar when trying to return home Friday morning.

“Pat said he tried to contact us (by cellular phone) but was unable to get through,” Pedersen said. “He did get through to his agent (Tony Matos) and left a message on his machine around 11:30 (a.m.), but Tony was at his ranch in Lancaster because it had some earthquake damage.

“Tony verified Pat left the message, but he has been advised many times to call us and we don’t feel he made the proper effort to get in touch with us. Pat was upset, but he realized (the fine was justified).”

Pedersen and Fermin also said Valenzuela was tested negative for drugs.

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Making his first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Juvenile, Tabasco Cat won the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby Saturday at Bay Meadows.

The colt, who ran over assistant trainer Jeff Lukas last month, injuring him critically, defeated Flying Sensation by a length in 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles under Pat Day.

Horse Racing Notes

Chris Antley and Kent Desormeaux will begin five-day suspensions Wednesday for incidents on Friday. . . . Music Merci has been retired. The 8-year-old gelding, who made his final start when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last Nov. 6, finished his career with 12 victories in 35 starts and earnings of $1,500,710.