Star Cross’ Blinkers Signal Win

Star Cross, better than fifth only once in his first six races in the United States, has been a different horse with blinkers.

The 7-year-old made it two victories in a row since trainer Darrell Vienna made the equipment change with a come-from-behind win over Nose The Trade and five others in the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita.

A winner of six of 15 in his native Argentina before being purchased by Vienna for owner Ernest Auerbach’s E A Ranches, Star Cross -- an 8-1 shot -- prevailed by half a length under jockey Victor Espinoza. He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.22.

Without the blinkers, Star Cross’ best finish in this country was a third behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Oct. 4.

Vienna, whose Argentine-bred mare Star Parade had upset Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Adoration last month at Hollywood Park, saw the Star Cross horse win with the blinkers with a wide rally on Nov. 28 in the Forty Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Now, after the San Pasqual victory, the connections are thinking Santa Anita Handicap. The meet’s richest race ($1 million) will be run for the 67th time on March 6.

“He’s had trouble making the turns and he did today, but he’s starting to think about what he’s doing a little more,” said Vienna. “He’s a good horse who’s starting to learn how to run. We’ll absolutely look at the Big ‘Cap.”

For Nose The Trade, it was his second consecutive tough loss.

He had been beaten by the same margin by Olmodavor in last month’s Native Diver Handicap after looking like a winner in the stretch, and it was the same again Saturday.

He tracked the quick splits set by 8-1 shot Hot Market for most of the race, easily disposed of that one, opened up two lengths with an eighth of a mile to run, but couldn’t hold the lead.

“I thought the race unfolded well for us,” said Patrick Valenzuela, Nose The Trade’s rider. “Going into the turn, we made the lead easily and at the head of the lane I asked him to run and he picked it up. He ran well.”

Olmodavor, the 3-2 favorite, was third, three lengths behind the runner-up; then came Gift Of The Eagle, Total Impact, Hot Market and Sharp Breeze.

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Making his first start since his upset victory at 22-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Oct. 25, Cajun Beat -- this time a 4-5 favorite -- defeated 2-1 second-choice Gygistar and four others in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream ParkTrained by Steve Margolis for John and Joe Iracane and Satish Sanan’s Padua Stable, the 4-year-old Grand Slam gelding won for the sixth time in 12 starts. He completed the six furlongs in 1:09.06 under jockey Cornelio Velasquez.

The Mr. Prospector was one of three stakes on the opening-day card at Gulfstream Park. A race earlier, Puzzlement rallied past stablemate Bowman’s Band in the final yards to give trainer Allen Jerkens a 1-2 sweep in the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap. Delmonico Cat, a 9-2 shot, won the $100,000 Honey Fox Handicap.

The Hal’s Hope was one of three wins on the day for Jerkens. He had won earlier with favorites All Hail Stormy and Buju.

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There were two winning tickets in the pick six at Santa Anita. The tickets, each worth $760,861, were purchased at off-track wagering sites in Kentucky and Nevada.