It’s No Derby, but This Race Is Quite an ‘Event

Making his first start at a track other than Bay Meadows, Event Of The Year earned himself a longer stay in Kentucky on Sunday afternoon.

Remaining unbeaten in four starts, the 3-year-old son of Seattle Slew romped in the $600,000 Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park and the plan now is to send him to Churchill Downs to get him ready for his next race.

That, of course, would be the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and owner John and Betty Mabee’s colt looks like one of the top contenders after his five-length victory Sunday.

Ridden by Russell Baze for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 3-5 favorite in the field of 10 tracked the early pace while on the inside, angled to the outside for room on the turn and from there it was merely a question of what the margin and final time would be.

He completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47, two-fifths of a second slower than the track record set by Hansel in the 1991 Beam.

“He’s an awesome horse,” Baze said. “He does everything so easy. I’ve never ridden one better than him. We’re going to keep our fingers crossed and I’m just going to be very careful between now and [May 2] so I don’t get hurt.”

For the second consecutive year, the Jim Beam was marred by a fatal breakdown. Inexcessivelygood was the victim in 1997 and on Sunday, Time Limit, the 4-1 second choice, had to be euthanized after fracturing his left ankle.

The son of Gilded Time, who was owned by Overbrook Farm and trained by Wayne Lukas, finished his career with five victories in 13 starts, including two graded stakes triumphs.

Sorceror also had major problems, suffering a fracture of the cannon bone in his left foreleg. He was scheduled to have surgery after being transported to a veterinary clinic in Lexington.

Yarrow Brae, Lukas’ other entrant, was second at 17-1, finishing three lengths ahead of 12-1 shot Truluck.

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Baze and Hollendorfer teamed for another stakes victory earlier in Turfway Park’s card.

Tuxedo Junction took advantage of a good trip, then held on despite Baze dropping his whip in the final furlong to win the $75,000 Fairway Fun Stakes by a half-length over Anklet.

Fresh off a huge payday with Silver Charm in the $4-million Dubai World Cup, trainer Bob Baffert picked up some additional cash in Kentucky when Shot Of Gold won the $75,000 Rushaway Stakes.

Ridden by Baze, the son of Jolie’s Halo, who had broken his maiden easily at Santa Anita in his previous outing, went right to the lead and held off One Bold Stroke to win by a half-length in 1:42 2/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

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There was 138 years worth of jockey-and-trainer in the winner’s circle after Old Topper made a successful return to the races with a 3 1/2-length victory in the $80,550 San Pedro Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Jockey Laffit Pincay, 51, and trainer Noble Threewitt, 87, teamed with owner Barbara Hunter’s colt, who had been off since finishing last in the Norfolk Stakes last Oct. 19.

Outrun early, the 3-year-old Gilded Time colt and 4-1 third choice circled the field and drew away to win in 1:17 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. He now has three victories in eight starts.

“I’m tickled with the race,” said Threewitt, who looks many years younger than he is. “I don’t have too many horses, so it’s nice when you get a good one like him. He’s going to be a nice horse for us this summer. I feel wonderful.”

Completing the order of finish were F J’s Pace, who finished fifth as the 17-10 second choice and Grand Slam, who finished sixth and last as the 7-5 favorite.

Kentucky Derby plans will have to be put on hold for Grand Slam, who was making his first start since suffering a severe injury to his left hind leg in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

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Chief Bearhart, who capped an Eclipse Award-winning year with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November at Hollywood Park, delayed his 1998 debut Sunday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Scheduled to run in the $373,300 Explosive Bid Handicap, the Canadian-bred lost a shoe in the saddling paddock, then was totally uncooperative when efforts were made to re-shod him. After a long delay and after the stewards wouldn’t allow him to run wearing only three shoes, Chief Bearhart was scratched.

This made the task easy for Joyeux Danseur, the 1-2 favorite who rolled to a six-length victory over 19-10 second choice Martiniquais, who was ridden by Corey Nakatani for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Owned by Wayne Hughes and trained by Albert Stall, Joyeux Danseur has won three in a row.

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Preparing for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, Artax worked six furlongs in 1:13 Sunday morning for trainer Randy Bradshaw.

“The track was awfully dead this morning,” said Bradshaw, after the Santa Catalina and San Felipe winner worked under regular rider Chris McCarron. “I’m pleased because I wanted him to get a little bit tired and I think he did. I think he got something out of the work.”

Real Quiet, Indian Charlie and Orville N Wilbur’s, the other three main contenders in the 1 1/8-mile Derby, are scheduled to work this morning at Santa Anita.

Hanuman Highway, who won an allowance race at 28-1 on March 13, worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 Sunday morning and is likely to be supplemented to the Derby for $20,000. Hanuman Highway is owned by Syd Belzberg’s Budget Stable and trained by Kathy Walsh.

“He finished well and that’s what we were looking for,” Walsh said of Sunday’s workout. “We’re seriously talking [about the Derby]. We’re not totally committed, but it looks promising.”

Horse Racing Notes

A race after Threewitt won the San Pedro, trainer Charlie Whittingham, who will turn 85 on April 13, won with Young At Heart. . . . Unbeaten in three starts, including the Santa Anita Oaks, Hedonist will leave today for Kentucky where she will run in the $500,000 Ashland Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. She worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 Sunday morning at Hollywood Park.