Stable Notes Del Mar, California Thursday, August 14, 1997 (Day 20)

EIGHT SPRINTERS FACE TEST IN SATURDAY'S PAT O'BRIEN 'CAP AT DEL MAR

The first three finishers in Del Mar's Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap July 27 will renew their rivalry Saturday when they head a field of eight sprinters for the 12th running of the Grade III Pat O'Brien Handicap at seven furlongs on the seaside course's main track. If the eight start, the gross purse will be $109,200, with $69,200 going to the winner.

Back from the Crosby are winner First Intent, owned by the Lima Family Trust and trained by Jack Carava; runner-up Boundless Moment, owned by Budget Stable and trained by Kathy Walsh; and Mike Pegram's third-place finisher High Stakes Player, trained by Bob Baffert. High Stakes Player will carry high weight of 119, including jockey Chris McCarron, with Boundless Moment at 118 and First Intent at 117. Boundless Moment will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux and First Intent will have Rene Douglas in the irons.

Stepping up to offer competition in the sprint are Robert B. Moreno's Ready to Order, with jockey Corey Black; Prince Fahd Salman's Gold Land, with J.G. Matos; Ernest Auerbach's Tres Paraiso, with Gary Stevens; Evergreen Farm and Sahadi's Elmhurst, with Alex Solis; and Score Quick, who finished fourth in the Crosby, with Goncalino Almeida.

SUNDAY'S DEL MAR OAKS WILL HAVE A DISTINCT INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR

Though the entries aren't in yet, it appears Sunday's 41st edition of the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday will be spiced with European flavors.

For example, the French-bred See You Soon will be making her first start at Del Mar for trainer Robert Frankel after finishing fourth in Arlington International Race Course's Pucker Up Stakes July 6.

But there are two even-newer runners ready for their United States debuts -- Sidney H. Craig's Golden Arches, who is in quarantine in Los Angeles and is expected to arrive at Del Mar Friday afternoon, and Laura Recachina's Green Jewel, who came to the Charlie Whittingham barn 10 days ago.

Trainer Ron McAnally was present when Golden Arches arrived from France and he said the filly made the flight in good order and looked fine on arrival. He drove back to Del Mar last night and will be awaiting her arrival at the seaside track Friday afternoon if all the tests are passed by the daughter of Common Grounds.

"We hope everything works like clockwork," the Hall of Fame trainer said, "and we hope she runs well." The filly was bought by Craig following her most recent victory, the Group III Prix Chloe at Laffitte in France. Earlier, she won the Prix Rose de Mal, a listed race at Saint-Cloud.

Of Green Jewel, Tim Yakteen, assistant to Hall of Famer Whittingham, said: "She's a hard-knocking young filly. She competed against the boys. We thought she'd be suited for racing here in California. We expect a big race from her; she's training exceptionally well. She's been on the turf course a couple of times and she seems to handle it quite well."

Green Jewel's arrival brings to mind Whittingham's British import Rainbow Blues, who shipped in to his barn in time to run off with the top prize in the Grade II Del Mar Derby last year. However, Yakteen said, "She doesn't come over with the same credentials that 'Rainbow' did, but she did come over with the credentials of being a hard, tough filly. Once you start going a mile and eighth in California, it starts eliminating a percentage of horses that can go that far. This filly definitely wants a mile and an eighth." Meet- leading rider Kent Desormeaux will be in the irons.

ANOTHER "DONUTS AT DEL MAR" SERVED UP ON SATURDAY AT THE TRACK

Gary Stevens, the newest Hall of Fame jockey, and trainer David Hofmans, who calls the shots for Touch Gold, the nation's hottest 3-year-old, will be the featured guests Saturday morning on the second "Donuts at Del Mar" program at the seaside course. The popular Saturday feature runs from 8 to 10 in the Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch.

The "Donuts" mornings are family-oriented gatherings set against the backdrop of the Thoroughbreds going through their workouts. Entertainment, prizes, racing information and, of course, donuts, juice and coffee are offered to the public -- all free. Track announcer Trevor Denman serves as master of ceremonies for the sessions. Also on the guest roster this Saturday is track steward David Samuel.

This is the ninth year that Del Mar has presented "Donuts," working in conjunction with Yum Yum Donuts, the kids' club of television station XETV and radio station Q-106. Fans are asked to use the track's Solana Gate for easiest access to the gathering.

WRITER NAHILL, AGENT BARISOFF FEATURED AT HANDICAPPING SEMINAR

Two more free handicapping seminar will be presented Saturday and Sunday at Del Mar, where patrons can get a glimpse into the art of handicapping and insight into the afternoon's racing card. The handicapping sessions are held from 12:30-1:15 p.m. each day at the Seaside Terrace near the head of the stretch.

Saturday's guest will be Jeff Nahill, turf writer for the North County Times. Sunday's guest will be veteran jockey agent Bill Barisoff, who currently handles Eddie Delahoussaye.

DEL MAR'S "ALL YOU NEED IS A HUNCH" SLOGAN BEARS FRUIT ON TRACK

Del Mar's "All You Need Is A Hunch" slogan got special affirmation Wednesday when Heza Ragin Cajun won the fifth race.

Why is that? Because he was ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, who is one of many riders in the country who have come out of the Cajun country of Louisiana.

Wednesday's victory sent the 27-year-old Desormeaux, who has won three Eclipse Awards so far, to the top of the local rider standings at 18 to 17 over winless Alex Solis.

APPRENTICE MATOS WINS TWO ON WEDNESDAY, CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

Apprentice rider J.G. Matos, who had a major impact at Hollywood Park during the spring and summer meeting by finishing fourth in the standings with 37 victories, continues to impress at the Del Mar meeting. Matos scored twice Wednesday (Tiger Popcorn in the third race and Via Lombardia in the sixth), placing him fifth in the standings with 12 wins.

Matos will start a five-day suspension on Friday, but will ride Gold Land in Saturday's Pat O'Brien Handicap because it is a designated race, a rule in California that allows a suspended rider to have a mount in such a race. (All 19 of Del Mar's graded stakes have been designated as designated races.) Agent Tony Matos, no relation to the 19-year-old Puerto Rico native who speaks little English, is rhapsodic about the young rider's future. "No apprentice in a long time has been able to come in and ride like this," agent Matos said this morning. "He is spectacular. Trainers use him even in stakes when he doesn't get the weight off."

Matos the agent said Matos the rider will serve his suspension and "will come back stronger than ever." The agent said also that he and the rider are considering either the Fairplex meeting or a try at New York following the Del Mar meet.

"We're going for the Eclipse [Award as the nation's outstanding apprentice]," Matos said.

SHORE LINES - Pacific Classic runner-up Siphon is being treated for a foot problem, according to trainer Richard Mandella. "We think it's a bruised foot," Mandella said this morning. "We put a poultice on it yesterday, and he seems better today." Mandella said the plan for Siphon calls for him to run in Belmont Park's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 18, but "we need to get over the foot problem first." ... There was some special drama on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in Wednesday's sixth race when jockey Chris McCarron aboard race leader Helmsman thought the 5-year-old son of El Gran Senor had injured himself and pulled him up as the field came down the stretch. McCarron then eased the horse to a stop at the seven-eighths pole, got off and began to remove the saddle. Helmsman then kicked McCarron above the left knee. McCarron went down and later was carried off the course by two medical attendants. X-rays at Scripps Memorial Hospital were negative and McCarron was sent home with an ice bag on the knee. On the other hand, Helmsman, according to trainer Wallace Dollase, escaped the incident with no apparent damage. According to the Dollase barn this morning, the horse appears to be in great shape, and will be prepped for the $500,000 Woodbine Mile September 20 at the Canadian track. ... Dollase is expected to have Crypto Star, winner of the Louisiana and Arkansas Derbys, in his barn before long. The 3-year-old's owner, Darrell Yates, says he wants to try the horse on the Southern California circuit. ... Trainer Jeremy Noseda, with a string of horses at Del Mar, has decided to disband his stable and return to England to open a public stable at Newmarket.

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES - Saratoga: Albany.