Stable Notes Del Mar, California Saturday, August 23, 1997 (Day 28)

SEVEN PRIMED TO RUN IN TODAY'S OSUNITAS HANDICAP AT DEL MAR

Led by Grade I stakes winner Auriette, a field of seven fillies and mares, including an entry, is set to go to the post today in the $100,000-added Osunitas Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Del Mar's Jimmy Durante Turf Course. If all seven start, the gross purse will be $108,050, and the winner's share will be $68,050.

Primed to test Auriette, owned by Barnes and Prestonwood Farms and trained by Martin F. Jones, are the Cobra Farm coupling of Kristopher Street and Port Plaisance, both trained by Mike Puype; Warren Williamson's Blending Element, trained by Carla Gaines; Budget Stable's Myrtle, trained by Kathy Walsh; Allen, Bonde and Cox's Notagoldbrick, trained by Jeff Bonde; and Roberta Cohen and Red Baron's Barn's Staffin, trained by Darrell Vienna.

TRAINER PETERSON, JOCKEY GARCIA MAKE A WINNING COMBINATION

Trainer Doug Peterson is having one of his best seasons at Del Mar this year, having already equaled last season's record of seven victories with 16 days yet to go before the end of the 43-day meeting. That puts him tied for third place with Bill Spawr and Dan Hendricks.

Peterson had a solid meet at Hollywood Park with 14 victories, which left him tied for sixth place in the standings with Bob Baffert and Randy Bradshaw. Part of Peterson's success both at Hollywood Park and Del Mar was the riding of Matt Garcia, who contributed three victories at Hollywood and four here at Del Mar.

What is it about Garcia that makes him an important part of Team Peterson? "Matt is a nice young man with a lot of ability," Peterson said. "Horses run for him. He's fearless. He wants to learn; he wants to listen. And when a rider is willing, he follows instructions."

And what about Peterson these days, what's his key to success? "I think I'm beginning to get a lot of the respect I got back East," said the big, strapping trainer who handled Seattle Slew in his final racing days. "Maybe that's because they know me back there and it's easier to get that. But when you come out here, you have to pay your dues. If you work hard, you get the respect you deserve."

Owners Ronald and Susie Anson of Brentwood, CA, who rank in the Top Ten for earnings with purse money of $149,855 so far during the meet, rate a No. 1 ranking with Peterson. "They are a blessing," he said. "We have a good relationship, and this is a game of relationships. If you have a good relationship, you're going to be successful."

Peterson first came to Southern California in 1979 with the Tayhill Stable, which had run the fabled Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. He left shortly after that, though, and returned in 1987, the trainer said -- with one horse. "I struggled for awhile with one of two horses," he said. "Then the Cavanaughs [Thomas and Marguerite] joined me in '89 and Mrs. [June] Daniels shortly after that and the stable went to eight or nine horses, but could never quite get over the hump.

"When the Ansons joined my stable, they started out with four or five and that's turned into 15."

Winning at the track for the Ansons makes up for the long suffering they've had to deal with as faithful Chicago Cubs fans. Their love for the Cubs, who haven't played in a World Series since 1945, is reflected in their silks, which carry the symbol of the National League baseball team.

THERE WILL BE A DEFINITE DEL MAR FLAVOR TO ARLINGTON MILLION DAY

The three major races headlining Sunday's Arlington Million Day at Arlington International Race Course near Chicago will have a distinct Del Mar flavor as nine horses and three jockeys from the seaside track will be competing. In two of the races -- the Million and the $500,000 Beverly D, both Grade I events -- the favorite has a Del Mar connection.

Heading the Million field on Arlington's turf course will be Sierra Thoroughbreds' Sandpit, the 5-2 morning-line favorite trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Chris McCarron. Third choice at 5-1 in the race is Michael Tabor's Marlin, trained by D. Wayne Lukas with Gary Stevens in the irons. Gainsborough Farm's Labeeb, trained by Neil Drysdale and ridden by Corey Black, and Diane Keith and Harlequin Stable's Percutant, trained by Jean-Pierre Dupuis and ridden by Michael Kinane, are listed as 12-1 longshots.

In their most recent races, Sandpit finished third in the Hollywood Gold Cup on the dirt, Marlin was third in Del Mar's Eddie Read on the turf, Labeeb was sixth of seven in the Read and Percutant finished third in Hollywood Park's Sunset Handicap and later was scratched from Del Mar's Pacific Classic when he dumped his rider on the way to the gate.

In the Beverly D, the morning-line favorite at 2-1 is Del Mar's Ramona Handicap winner Escena, who is owned by Allen E. Paulson, trained by Bill Mott and gets the saddle services of regular rider Pat Day. At 6-1 is Gary A. Tanaka's Donna Viola, who was fourth for trainer Ben Cecil in the Ramona. She'll be ridden by Stevens.

Black will ride VHW Stables' Amerique for trainer Ron McAnally in the $400,000 Secretariat. Listed at 12-1, Amerique finished second in one division of the Oceanside Stakes on Del Mar's opening day. Robert S. Folsom's P.T. Indy, who finished third in the USA Stakes at Lone Star Park July 5 in his most recent start, is the 9-2 third choice. He's trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Lanfranco Dettori.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR TUESDAY'S ALL-STAR JOCKEY TEAM PENNING EVENT

Tickets are being sold at Del Mar in the Clubhouse Paddock area today and Sunday for Tuesday night's Fourth Annual All-Star Jockey Team Penning to be held at the Fairgrounds arena at Del Mar. The event benefits the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, which aids injured and disabled riders.

Tickets are available for the roast turkey and pasta buffet and the penning event. The buffet will be served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Penning events begin at 7. Comedian Tim Conway, one of the co-founders of the MacBeth Fund along with Chris and Judy McCarron, will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.

Juanita Delahoussaye, wife of Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye, will be available at a table in the paddock area to discuss ticket options. General admission for the night, which doesn't include the buffet, is $5 and can be purchased at the door on the night of the event.

SHORE LINES -- Though it may not belong in the Guinness Book of Records, the early daily double payoff on Friday certainly qualifies as a rarity. The double paid $39.60, which on the face of it, might not seem strange, but that payoff was less than that of first-race winner Noisy Slewpy's $42.20. Ecoute, the 3-5 winner in the second race, obviously skewed the payoff. ... Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. moved one victory closer to Bill Shoemaker's all-time win mark at Del Mar with a score in Friday's third race. That gave him 883 victories in his 22nd season at the seaside course. Shoemaker holds the record with 889 in 26 seasons. ... Jockey Patrick Valenzuela drew a five-day suspension from Del Mar stewards Friday for failing to report for his mounts on Thursday. The suspension begins Monday and will stretch through next Saturday's races. According to his agent Don Pierce, Valenzuela still is scheduled to ride General Gem, trained by Eric Kruljac, in Sunday's $600,000 Indian Nations Futurity Cup at Santa Fe Downs in New Mexico. Also going from Del Mar to ride in the race are Scott Stevens, who will be aboard Real Quiet for trainer Bob Baffert, and Danny Sorenson, who will be up on Grady, trained by Randy Bradshaw. ... Double victories on Friday by Gary Stevens and apprentice rider J.G. Matos sent them into a tie for fourth place in the jockey standings with suspended rider Corey Nakatani, with 14 wins apiece. ... Kent Desormeaux, battling Alex Solis for the jockey lead at Del Mar, is riding Formal Gold today in the $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park; Chris McCarron rides Deputy Commander for trainer Wallace Dollase in the $750,000 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, and Brice Blanc is at Calder Race Course to ride Wavy Run for trainer Darrell Vienna in the $200,000 Miami Breeders' Cup Handicap.

TODAY'S SIMULCAST STAKES -- Saratoga: King's Bishop (II), Travers (I); Monmouth Park: Philip H. Iselin Handicap (II); Calder: Miami Breeders' Cup Handicap.