Last year, Oak Tree squeezed seven stakes races into its first weekend to accommodate horsemen readying for the Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine on Oct. 26.

This year, with the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita starting Oct.1 and the Breeders’ Cup nearly two weeks later on Nov. 8 at Hollywood Park, the picture should be somewhat more manageable, in the eyes of Santa Anita’s Director of Racing, Tom Robbins.

"The only difference is, with the Breeders’ Cup falling after our meeting, I think we have a little more attractive schedule in terms of the Southern California’s stepping stone races," Robbins said. "Remember last year, we had to have all seven of those races on our first weekend, which put us three weeks from Breeders’ Cup day at Woodbine.

"Now, with the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 8, we’ve got them split up on the second and the third weekend. I certainly prefer that and I certainly think it’s better for the meeting rather than have everything grouped under the first weekend."

Robbins estimated the horse population in Santa Anita’s newly thatched and painted barn area will be about the same as last year. But down the road, with the closing of Arlington, a pitch could be made for Midwestern horsemen to go west..

"We wouldn’t get any horses from that circuit this year," Robbins said. "But if it (the closing) holds true to next year, we’ll certainly try to attract some horses or stables that would normally go to Arlington.

"It’s unfortunate that such a wonderful, gorgeous facility has to close. They did a first-class job, and to have a place like that shut down has to be a huge disappointment to the fans and to the horsemen."

As for the outlook on the short and hopefully sweet Oak Tree meet:

"I’m looking forward to it. This is year two for the turf course, and right now it looks absolutely superb. We’ve got a year under our belt (with the grass course, which was maligned in the past both by the pounding of horses’ hooves and across-the-board criticism).

"The key," Robbins added, "is how the course holds up in years two and three, but I’m really looking forward to it. This year, I think our turf guy (Leif Dickinson) did a wonderful job in the transition of the course from winter to summer. It looks perfect right now."

THE HOMESTRETCH: So much for Gentlemen and Touch Gold meeting in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Both horses shockingly finished out of the money Saturday, in the Woodbine Mile and the Pegasus, respectively. Gentlemen finished fifth, while Touch Gold ran fourth and last, beaten 16 lengths. Late word from both barns has Touch Gold still on course for the Breeders’ Cup, but Gentlemen’s status is day-to-day. "I talked to my dad last night," Gary Mandella said of his father, Richard, who trains Gentlemen. "He said they scoped him after the race and he’s got a small throat ulcer on the tip of his epiglottis. It’s something that’s treatable, but it’s the kind of thing that can go away in a week, or not go away in six months. We’re not going to know until we get him home (he was due Monday) and we start treating him for it. What his next race is going to be will be day-to-day for the next week or two, until we see how he responds to treatment. We’re going to have to wait for him to tell us when he gets over it. Obviously, he didn’t run his best race and we have to wait for that ulcer to heal so he can get his air properly." Touch Gold had a much better prognosis. "He came out of the race fine," said trainer David Hofman’s son, Grant. "The (Meadowlands) track was too hard for him, stinging that (troubled left front) foot. That’s why he was trying to get (bear) out. The track was sealed and really hard and fast. But he’ll still be able to make the Breeders’ Cup. We pulled the patch off the foot, we’re going to let it dry out, put a new patch on and go on with him." The disappointing efforts by Gentlemen and Touch Gold puts romping 5 1/2-length Woodward winner Formal Gold squarely in contention for the Classic. "I like his chances in that race," said Brian Beach, agent for Kent Desormeaux, who rides to colt . . . Mark Stephens, one of racing’s bright, young executives, was fired Tuesday as Santa Anita’s vice president of marketing and customer relations. One published report said the reason for Stephens’ dismissal was because of "an extra layer of management in marketing that we could probably do without," but word we get is that the California University graduate and former Pittsburgh Steeler just couldn’t be a Yes Man to the top guns at the Arcadia track . . . Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm will parade on Fairplex Park’s track on Saturday. "We’ll show him around," said trainer Bob Baffert, enjoying a career year. "We’re jogging him right now. He’s recovered from his infection (suffered after finishing second to Touch Gold in the Belmont). He’s doing real good. He’s going to come back better than ever." Silver Charm is scheduled to return to the races in the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 . . . Craig Lewis, owner/trainer of rags-to-riches colt Larry The Legend, says the 1995 Santa Anita Derby winner has a slim chance of making his comeback in the Governor’s Cup at Fairplex Park on Sunday. "It’s extremely doubtful, but we’ll take a look," Lewis said. "It’s not totally out of the question, but it’s remote as we speak. But I could change my mind." . . . Little Fairplex Park did itself proud last Monday when world-class trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Richard Mandella sent out fillies to win divisions of the Pio Pico Stakes. "I sure don’t remember the last time I won (a stakes race) here," said Lukas, decked out in full cowboy regalia, including 10-gallon hat. "I’ve won quarter horse stakes, and I’ve run thoroughbreds here a number of times." For the record, Lukas won the 1992 Las Madrinas Handicap with Terre Haute. Mandella and Lukas rank one-two in money won this year with $8.1 million and $7.6 million, respectively . . . Laffit Pincay Jr., in pursuit of Bill Shoemaker’s all-time record of 8,833 wins, rode Notagoldbrick to a head victory in the E.B. Johnston Stakes. It wasn’t easy, but Pincay said, "riding here is a lot of fun for me, especially if I ride only two or three horses. Four or more, I don’t think I’d enjoy it so much." The Hall of Fame rider will be 51 on Dec. 26 . . . Barry Abrams reports his claim of the decade, Famous Digger, is on course for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 4. "She’s doing great," the trainer said of the $40,000 claim he developed into a multiple stakes winner, including the Grade I Del Mar Oaks. On Santa Anita’s $10 million renovation, almost half of which was spent on backstretch improvements: "The barn area looks beautiful, very clean. All the stalls are in good shape, the roads are in good shape, and the grandstand is getting into good shape. It’s not quite done yet." . . . There were no publicity releases put out on this, but did you know that track programs have increased 25 cents to an outrageous $1.75? Tracks should provide programs free, and general parking, too. Racing must do as Vegas does and cater to, not clobber, its customers.