Skip Away Makes It Look Oh So Easy

With an effort that many believed might have been good enough to have earned him third place in the Santa Anita Handicap in six days, heavily favored Skip Away won the $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap on Saturday in Hallandale, Fla.

Against a field that was, to be kind, suspect, the 1-9 choice was able to win for the fourth consecutive time despite running the final quarter-mile in a pedestrian 28 seconds.

In becoming the first horse since Forego in 1974 to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap carrying 127 pounds, Skip Away tracked the quick pace set by Behrens, drew clear on the far turn, then went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths and appeared to be doing his best under jockey Jerry Bailey. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:03 1/5.

Unruled, who ran second to Skip Away at 97-1 in the Donn Handicap three weeks earlier, was second again at nearly 20-1. Behrens was third, 1 3/4 lengths behind. Then came Sir Bear and the Allen Jerkens-trained duo of Wagon Limit and Banker’s Gold.

This was the 13th victory in 31 starts for Skip Away, a 5-year-old son of Skip Trial, and increased his earnings for owner Carolyn Hine and her trainer husband, Sonny, to $7,356,360.

“He handled the weight today,” Sonny Hine said. “I thought he got a little tired and the heat and the pace might have had something to do with that. It’s no easy task to win when you’re giving away 13-16 pounds. . . . I know that he’s the best horse I’ve ever seen. My hope is that by the end of the year everyone thinks that.”

Bailey, who is unbeaten in three races aboard Skip Away, isn’t among those who need to be convinced.

“He really wanted to run today,” he said. “I had to work to take him back off Behrens. . . . Skip Away kind of loafs a little bit. The [weight] was kind of getting to him. It was a lot to carry and he was working hard to get there.”

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In his final workout before Saturday’s much-anticipated encounter with Silver Charm in the $1-million ‘Big Cap, Gentlemen worked six furlongs in 1:10 3/5 Saturday morning at Hollywood Park.

“He couldn’t have looked better,” said trainer Richard Mandella after the 6-year-old’s drill under exercise rider Steve Willard. “He worked with a stablemate, stalked him and blew by him in the stretch. I’m very happy with the workout.”

Mandella could start three in the Santa Anita Handicap for the second consecutive year. He finished 1-2-3 in the race in 1997 with Siphon, Sandpit and Gentlemen. Besides Gentlemen and Malek, the trainer could send out Refinado Tom or Tru Story.

Refinado Tom, who won the Native Diver Handicap in December at Hollywood Park, worked seven furlongs in 1:24 3/5 on Friday.

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Jockey Garrett Gomez, who has made a favorable impression since joining the Southern California circuit full time, was off his mounts again Saturday and it is uncertain when--or where--he will ride again.

Steward Pete Pedersen said Saturday afternoon that Gomez, 30, hasn’t contacted him or the other Santa Anita stewards--Ingrid Fermin and Tom Ward--all week, and Gomez won’t be allowed to ride until he meets with them. Gomez, who was scheduled to ride four horses today, has won 14 races from 137 mounts at the current Santa Anita meeting. He last rode on Feb. 21.

Gomez, who has spent most of his career riding in the Midwest, has a history of substance abuse problems. Reportedly, the Arizona-born jockey has left California after a dispute with his fiancee, who is said to have gone to Arkansas.

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Three years ago, Larry The Legend parlayed a victory in the San Rafael Stakes into a win in the Santa Anita Derby, and six 3-year-olds will be trying to win the first half of that double today.

The San Rafael, a Grade II race run at a mile, is headed by Souvenir Copy, the 8-5 choice and the only stakes winner in the field.

Victorious in the Del Mar Futurity and Norfolk Stakes last year, the Mr. Prospector colt was a distant second to Artax in his 1998 debut in the Santa Catalina, but has trained well lately for Bob Baffert.

Orville N Wilburs, who disappointed at 2-5 in the San Vicente three weeks ago, is the 2-1 second choice as he tries two turns for the first time.

Completing the field are Mr. Fortune, who is unbeaten in two sprint starts for trainer Kim Lloyd; Magical; Futuristic, who beat Artax in an allowance race earlier in the meeting; and San Vicente runner-up Late Edition.

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What has been a season-long hot streak continued Saturday for trainer Neil Drysdale when his Dance Parade made a successful U.S. debut in the $169,200 Buena Vista Handicap.

With the victory, Drysdale has won with 14 of 39 starters at the Santa Anita meeting. He has six wins and two seconds with his last eight starters.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for owner Prince Fahd Salman, Dance Parade, a 4-year-old Gone West filly who had won of her six outings in England and France, held on to beat 6-1 shot Shake The Yoke by a neck in 1:36 4/5 for the mile on turf. Donna Viola, the 2-1 favorite, was a head back in third.