At the start of 1997, two of the strongest race meets are in progress on both coasts. Loaded with the nation's best horses, jockeys and trainers, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., (near Miami) and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., (near Los Angeles) are set to offer more than $650,000 in combined daily purses from now through April.
Good winter weather is a key reason for this, of course.
In Florida, trainer Nick Zito is one of many talented horsemen with several newly turned 3-year-olds, all of whom on New Year's Day became eligible for this year's Triple Crown series.
In California, trainer D. Wayne Lukas has no less than a dozen good prospects revving up for the 1997 Triple Crown chase as he seeks his third consecutive Kentucky Derby triumph. Even in Louisiana, trainer Dick Small of Maryland is one of many with promising young horses who will deserve a closer look during the next few months.
Meanwhile, the never-ending season continues in New York and other cold weather sites where many races with no import will be contested over anti-freeze treated racing surfaces before sparse crowds of hard-core bettors who would hardly notice if mules were in the feature.
But for those fortunate enough to be able to visit the Fair Grounds, Santa Anita or Gulfstream this year, or those who will use their favorite winterized track to see creme de la creme compete in warmer climes, here are 10 live horses to consider for play. Very few are well known horses at this point in their careers. All have excellent prospects to win at their respective tracks.
AT GULFSTREAM PARK:
Dr. Spine: a maiden 3-year-old, trained by Kathleen Wadsworth, was third to Boston Harbor in a Turfway stakes last October and has trained forwardly at Payson Park for his return. May be a multiple winner at the meet.
Hekofaralph: Speedy sprinter ran well at Gulfstream last year and is likely to be sharp in his first and second outings of the meet. Up to seven furlongs only.
Ray's Approval: Absentee with turf breeding has been training deceptively fast at very slow Payson Park, where trainer Billy Mott and a few others annually get most of their better horses ready. Watch for a sharp try in the first crack out of the box.
AT SANTA ANITA:
Sandtrap: Newly turned 4-year-old trained by B.A. Cecil was used up on the red-hot early pace in the opening day Malibu stakes at seven furlongs on a wet main track. Loves turf sprints and will take plenty of beating when the 6-1/2 furlong, hillside course dries out.
Hesabull: Interesting 4-year-old is a cut below the best horses on the grounds, but has plenty of speed, is dead game and especially dangerous up to 1-1/16 miles around two turns from a good post. Can connect if sensibly placed.
Emailit: Well-traveled as a 2-year-old last year and a minor stakes winner in Northern California, while winning four of 15 on dirt. Trained well for a Santa Anita grass stakes that was moved to the dirt on Jan. 2. Expecting improvement when he gets his chance on the turf, possibly in Northern California.
Great White Hope: Was claimed by Jack Carava for $12,500 when third while making two wide runs in a roughly run 1-1/16 mile test on a drying out track on Dec. 29. Can handle slightly better with a clear trip.
Espartaro: British import trained by Darrell Vienna had a trip from hell in his American debut on the hillside course on Dec. 26. Can score over similar allowance types with better racing luck and would be a stronger play if a switch is made from apprentice N. J. Chavez to a more experienced jockey.
Dunbar Hill: Newly turned 3-year-old filly with a future is training well for a distance of ground and will be dangerous at first asking in a stakes on dirt or turf.
AT THE FAIR GROUNDS:
Goes on: Middle distance type loves the grass and was scratched from a turf race when the rains forced a switch to the main track. Capable of an upset victory against a good group if allowed to try a 5-1/2 furlong turf sprint from slightly off the pace.
While the above 10 horses to watch do not come with a no-risk guarantee, each has trained or prepped well for a specific race likely to be run sometime during January or early February. Surely a few juicy priced winners is a great way to kick off 1997. Happy New Year.
Nevertheless, Arthur L made a positive visual impression when he battled back gamely to retain his narrow margin after setting all the pace, and it would be no surprise to see him win a graded stakes later in the season on dirt or turf.
Below are all the major prep races for the 1997 Triple Crown chase.
PREP RACES FOR THE 1997 KENTUCKY DERBY, PREAKNESS AND BELMONT STAKES
| 1/5 | Spectacular Bid S. (G3), Gulfstream Park, $75,000, 3yo, 6 furlongs |
| 1/11 | Count Fleet S., Aqueduct, $50,000a, 3yo, 8 furlongs-70yds |
| 1/11 | Florence S., Turfway Park, $50,000g, 3yo, 6.5f |
| 1/12 | Black Gold H., Fair Grounds, $40,000a, 3yo, 6f |
| 1/18 | Holy Bull S. (G3), Gulfstream Park, 8.5f |
| 1/18 | San Miguel S., Santa Anita, 6f |
| 2/2 | Santa Catalina Stakes, Santa Anita, 8.5f |
| 2/2 | Hutcheson Stakes (G3), Gulfstream Park, 7f |
| 2/8 | San Vicente Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, 7f |
| 2/8 | Mountain Valley (L), Oaklawn Park, 6f |
| 2/15 | Presidents Stakes (L), Turfway Park, 6f |
| 2/22 | Fountain of Youth (G2), Gulfstream Park, 8.5f |
| 2/23 | Risen Star (L), Fair Grounds, 8.5f |
| 3/1 | Southwest Stakes (L), Oaklawn Park, 8f |
| 3/2 | San Rafael Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, 8f |
| 3/8 | Battaglia Memorial (L), Turfway Park, 8.5f |
| 3/15 | Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park, 9f |
| 3/15 | Swale S. (G3), Gulfstream Park, 7f |
| 3/15 | Louisiana Derby (G3), Fairgrounds, 8.5f |
| 3/15 | Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park, 9f |
| 3/15 | Swale S. (G3), Gulfstream Park, 7f |
| 3/16 | San Felipe Stakes (G2), Santa Anita, 8.5f |
| 3/22 | El Camino Real Derby, Bay Meadows, 8.5f |
| 3/22 | Rebel Stakes (G3), Oaklawn Park, 8.5f |
| 3/29 | Rushaway (L), Turfway Park, 9f |
| 3/29 | Jim Beam S. (G2), Turfway Park, 9f |
| 4/5 | Santa Anita Derby (G1), Santa Anita, 9f |
| 4/12 | Arkansas Derby (G2), Oaklawn Park, 9f |
| 4/12 | Blue Grass Stakes (G2), Keeneland, 9f |
| 4/12 | Wood Memorial (G2), Aqueduct, 9f |
| 4/22 | Lexington Stakes (G3), Keeneland, 8.5f |
| 5/3 | Kentucky Derby (G1), Churchill Downs, 10f |
| 5/17 | Preakness stakes, Pimlico, 1-3/16 miles |
| 6/7 | Belmont stakes, Belmont Park, 1-1/2 miles |
Steve Davidowitz is the author of "Betting Thoroughbreds.".
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