Stable Notes Del Mar, California Monday, August 18, 1997 (Day 24)

OAKS WINNER DIGGING UP GREATER FAME WITH EACH VICTORY

Famous Digger, on a four-victory roll following her impressive tally Sunday in the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Oaks, "came back as good as she went in," said trainer Barry Abrams this morning. "It was a stroll in the park."

Abrams might get an argument from some on that score, since the winning margin was only a neck over Golden Arches, who was making her first start in the United States since shipping into trainer Ron McAnally's barn from France last week. Despite the narrow victory margin, Abrams insists that his 3-year-old filly won easier than it looked. "She didn't see the other filly until near the end, and then she re-broke," said Abrams about his first Grade I victory.

Desert Digger, who had built a five-length lead on the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race, lost the lead briefly to See You Soon as they ran through the stretch, but regained it quickly and went on to hold off Golden Arches.

Abrams, who claimed the filly January 31 at Santa Anita for $40,000, is considering -- but only slightly -- the Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Derby on September 1, but says she most likely will take on older fillies and mares in Grade III, $125,000-added Palomar Handicap September 6 at the seaside strip. If she were to run in the Derby, she would be tackling 3- year-old males.

Why would Abrams spend that kind of money to claim a 3-year-old who had failed in six attempts to break her maiden? "I liked her looks," the trainer said. "She trained well in the mornings, but she was washing out in the paddock and acted like she was scared to run in the afternoon. She got over that, and now she's real sharp."

Though he was hopeful of a victory, trainer McAnally said this morning he thought his Oaks filly -- Golden Arches -- ran well despite finishing second. The French import had a troubled trip but still raced down the stretch to nearly catch Famous Digger. "We were so close," McAnally said. "She came out of the race in good shape."

The trainer said he will point her toward the Grade I, $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland Race Course October 4.

JOCKEY BRICE BLANC BEAMS OVER FIRST GRADE I VICTORY

A smiling Brice Blanc was still relishing one of the finest moments in his riding career this morning as he reflected on Sunday's victory aboard Famous Digger in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks, the first Grade I win for the slender rider from France whose U.S. career began to bloom as an apprentice rider at Del Mar in 1995.

"It's really exciting," said Blanc, who has ridden Famous Digger in each of her nine races for trainer Barry Abrams. "I think she's learning, and getting much more mature. She's improving a lot and she's getting better and better. She loves to win; she loves competition. Now she knows how to do it. She doesn't give up."

That was not one of her characteristics early in the Abrams era, Blanc said. "She used to be very speedy and would go crazy and stop down the lane. But now she understands she has to finish and keep some energy for the last quarter of a mile. We've tried to get her to relax. Yesterday, she was a little more speedy [early in the race] than she usually is."

LUKAS COULD HAVE TWO YOUNGSTERS IN THE DEL MAR FUTURITY

Following an impressive three-length victory in Sunday's fourth race, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Yarrow Brae could be on his way to contesting the Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs September 10, the track's final day of its 43-day season.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, making a stop at his Del Mar barn, which is run by assistant Mike Marlow, said this morning that Sunday's winner at seven furlongs could be a candidate for the Futurity along with Double Honor, who is scheduled to be shipped in to Del Mar next week. Double Honor won the Grade III Sapling at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

TRAINER MANDELLA REPORTS THAT WILD RUSH RECOVERING FROM VIRUS

Richard Mandella's Remington Park Derby winner Wild Rush is recovering well from a virus attack that felled the colt following his victory at the Oklahoma City track.

Mandella said the son of Wild Again, who is owned by Frank Stronach, ran a high fever and was diagnosed with some sort of a virus infection. The trainer said the colt would remain in Oklahoma City for another week to 10 days before he would be shipped back to California.

YOUNG TRAINER CRAIG DOLLASE WINS HIS FIRST RACE AT DEL MAR

Craig Dollase, son of the highly successful trainer Wallace Dollase, posted his first training victory at Del Mar Sunday, sending Te Atua to the winner's circle in the day's seventh race. Dollase has been an assistant with his father for several years, but has been training a few horses on his own for nearly two years, and has 10 stalls at Del Mar.

"It was a big thrill to win my first race here," said young Dollase, whose been coming to the seaside with his parents for several years. "It was nice for Paul [jockey Paul Toscano], too," Dollase said. "He's been struggling some lately and he was in Chicago before he came back here. He's ridden this horse a lot (five straight victories now), and I was glad to have him on him. It's nice -- the horse was coming back from a layoff and Paul was coming back."

Dollase claimed the 4-year-old gelding for $25,000 February 22, 1996 and has six wins in eight starts with him since then. Dollase has raced Te Atua sparingly because of a chronic foot problem.

Toscano was just as gleeful about the victory, saying it was the best thing to happen to him this year. The rider, who won nine races last year at Del Mar, had ridden at Emerald Downs and Arlington Race Course recently, but decided to return to Del Mar. "I consider this my home," he said. "The people are wonderful, and I wanted to come home."

T.S. MONK, SON OF JAZZ LEGEND, TO DRUM UP "JAZZ AT DEL MAR" ACTION

T.S. Monk, son of the late jazz pianist and composer Thelonius Monk, will bring his jazz drumming style and his band to Del Mar on Wednesday as the fourth in a series of "Jazz at Del Mar" free concerts following the day's races.

The popular jazz series, now in its seventh season, is presented by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in cooperation with Radio Station KIFM and has the backing for the second straight year of Mercedes-Benz of North America and its three San Diego-area authorized dealers. The concerts are in the Plaza de Mexico just inside the seaside track's main gate.

JUST OVER THE HALFWAY POINT, TRACK'S STATISTICS HOLDING FIRM

After 23 days of Del Mar's 43-day meeting, here are the statistics for the seaside course:

Average Daily Attendance -- On track: 15,909, an increase of .6 per cent over the same period last year; off track: 16,136, down 4.3 per cent; total average daily attendance: 32,045, a decrease of 1.9 per cent.

Average Daily Handle -- On track: $2,362,069, a decrease of 1 per cent; off track: $4,130,969, down 3 per cent; out of state: $4,709,803, an increase of 8.8 per cent; total average daily handle: $11,202,834, an increase of 2.1 per cent.

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES - Saratoga: Glamour.