THE SANTA ANITA HANDICAP: CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
A funny thing happened to Cigar and Holy Bull on their way to the Santa Anita Handicap.
They didn't make it.
At least 1995 Horse of the Year Cigar got past the Donn Handicap. Holy Bull, 1994 Horse of the Year, only got as far as the backstretch last year before pulling up lame, forcing his retirement.
Cigar won the Donn Handicap and was all set to run in the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday when a bruised right front foot sent those plans up in smoke.
The official word out of Gulfstream Park last Thursday: "Cigar, slowed by a stone bruise suffered earlier this week, had an abscess removed from his right front hoof Thursday afternoon. Trainer Bill Mott performed the procedure in Cigar's stall, assisted by Dr. Jim Pendergrast, D.V.M., and members of Mott's crew.
"Using a farrier's knife to remove the horse's right front shoe, Mott found the abscess in the inside quarter of Cigar's right front hoof. The trainer then opened the abscess to let it drain. Observers reported that Cigar seemed 'happier' and in less discomfort almost immediately. The process took almost 30 minutes to complete, beginning at 3:15 p.m. and ending shortly before 3:45 p.m. Mott had arranged for a farrier to be flown in from Hot Springs, Arkansas, but when inclement weather delayed the flight, the trainer decided to perform the procedure himself.
"There is no prognosis at this point as to when Cigar will be able to return to training. The horse currently is resting comfortably in his stall."
Wally Dollase learned about Cigar's misfortune shortly after noon on Thursday.
"I got a FAX from a guy back east," said the 58-year-old trainer, currently on the most successful streak of his career. The native of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin had won seven of the first 29 stakes races at Santa Anita this meet, including the Grade II San Fernando Stakes and the Grade I Strub Stakes with Helmsman, a prime contender for the Big 'Cap, with or without Cigar.
"It came in about 12:15, and he was the first person to tell me about it," Dollase said. "I was having lunch. I couldn't believe the news, but this is (the nature of) our business. The same thing could happen to me, or anybody else. Hopefully, it's a minor thing and the horse will be back . . . if that's the case, it's just a matter of some time off and he'll probably be okay.
"But it puts a lot more pressure on me, because we'll probably be second, third or fourth favorite in the race. But Helmsman is training so good, it doesn't really bother me. That's the way I look at it."
Racing will be poorer for Cigar's absence and Dollase recognizes that.
"They're not gonna be coming out to see Helmsman yet," Dollase said of the racing public. "They would have come out to see Cigar. He probably would have drawn another 20,000 fans, and that's a shame. Maybe the pre-race publicity that's been generated will do some good anyway."
Either way, Dollase is enjoying a dream meet. His stakes winners include Windsharp (Reloy and San Luis Obispo), Helmsman (San Fernando and Strub), Jewel Princess (El Encino and La Cañada) and Southern Wish (The Bart).
"Definitely, by far, this is the best meet of my life, and here's the reason: I've been selecting these good horses for a couple of years now and they're all coming together right at the moment. I started buying horses about two years ago, with Gothland being the first one.
"In fact, he'd probably still be going today if it weren't for a bad foot -- similar to what Cigar has -- and it turned out to be a bad abscess. I had to retire him. It was a bruise first, then it turned into an abscess and I had to take out half his sole. He's at stud in Ireland now.
"Last year and the year before I spent a lot of time trying to find horses, and these are the horses that I'm running now, and it's paying off. I was able to select some nice horses. I've been very fortunate to have the experience to be able to pick them out. Training a good horse is much easier than training a bad horse, that's for sure.
"As far as (my) being a rocket-scientist trainer, no way. But I have been able to pick out some nice horses."
One such horse is his Triple Crown hopeful, Alyrob, a disappointing fourth as the favorite in the Santa Catalina Stakes.
"He's improved a lot with blinkers," Dollase said. "I've been galloping him with them in the mornings and he's much more focused -- I won't say relaxed, but he's much more into his gallop, the way we want him to be, and not the way he wants to do it."
Dollase said Alyrob, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, handily at Hollywood Park on Friday, is being pointed to the $250,000-added San Felipe Stakes on March 17.
GOLDEN PICKS
BIS CAT -- Overcame horrendous trip to win $80,000 turf test by a neck, despite stumbling at the start, being bumped, steadied and boxed in. Trouble-free journey should make next race easier, on both the horse and its backers.
BIRMINGHAM LADY -- Cal-bred maiden filly stumbled badly at break and fell far behind in 6 1/2-furlong race, but closed strongly thereafter. Figures to leave maiden ranks vs. $32,000 claimers with standard start.
GOLD PATTERN -- Daughter of Slew o' Gold was off last in debut, but rallied powerfully while wide to finish second, beaten less than two lengths by 9-10 favorite Listening. Should graduate next out vs. allowance maidens, but you won't get 44-1 this time.
CACTUS JUICE -- First-time starter from Gary Jones barn was not well-meant in debut, was fractious at gate and broke last at 19-1. Was far out of it before closing gap with keen interest in six-furlong race for $32,000, beaten just six lengths. Should benefit from learning experience.
EXPENSIVE STAR -- Favorite threw her head back a blink before the break, costing her any chance of victory vs. inflated allowance types going one mile. Still made the lead but weakened from her efforts after the tardy start. Give this one another opportunity.
THE HOMESTRETCH: Trainer Noble Threewitt, who celebrated his 85th
birthday on Feb. 24, attributes his mental and physical vigor to horse racing, which he's
enjoyed for more than 60 years. "In this business," said Threewitt, "you're so darn busy
all the time, you don't have time to get old . . . "It's a lot of fun, the camaraderie around
the track in the mornings. That helps keep you going." . . . Santa Anita president and
COO Cliff Goodrich had hoped for an on-track crowd as high as 50,000 under ideal
conditions, had Cigar participated in the Santa Anita Handicap . . . David Flores,
approached shortly after his latest comeback from substance abuse, declined an interview
about his battle then, opting to wait until he was sure he had it licked. Maybe he knew
something. On Feb. 18, two weeks after turning down the interview, Flores was
suspended for 60 days by the stewards "for violation of California Horse Racing Board
rules #1874 (intoxication) and #1489 (grounds for denial or refusal of license--engaged in
use of cocaine." Before the 28-year-old Tijuana native can be reinstated, he must provide
verification of completion of a residential program of recovery . . . When Lit De Justice,
the best sprinter in California, starts in Saturday's San Carlos Handicap, Corey Nakatani
will be back in the saddle for trainer Jenine Sahadi. Eddie Delahoussaye replaced
Nakatani during his five-day "whip" suspension, costing Corey a $13,500 payday when
Lit De Justice won the Palos Verdes Handicap . . . Trainer Mike Mitchell, discussing
possible Santa Anita Handicap weight for Cigar before he was injured: "115 pounds,"
Mitchell smiled -- "if it were run on the grass."
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)