THOROUGHBRED RACING : Foot Injury May Force Best Pal to Pass on Oaklawn Handicap

Best Pal continues to have bad luck out of town.

Winless everywhere except California, the 4-year-old son of Habitony might miss Saturday’s $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas because of a minor foot problem.

Trainer Gary Jones said the horse’s status is day to day and a decision will be made Saturday whether or not he will run. Entries will be taken this morning for the 1 1/8-mile race, which is the third leg of the American Championship Racing Series.

According to Jones, Best Pal “popped a gravel”--a condition that occurs when an abscess in the foot pops--in his right front foot Wednesday morning. Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee’s gelding had worked seven furlongs in 1:24 1/5 in the slop Monday morning and galloped out a mile in 1:37 4/5.

“As a rule, they (popping a gravel) surface where the hairline meets the hoof,” said veterinarian William Bell. “They soak it in Epsom salts and it can go away in a few days. But there’s nothing cut and dried about it, I’ve seen them last a lot longer. Without seeing the horse, I can’t tell you how long it will take.”

Jones started soaking the horse’s foot on Wednesday.

“He galloped perfectly this morning,” Jones said. “He may have been carrying that piece of gravel around for a long time. The question now is how tender is the foot? He’s moving fine now. We’ll let the horse decide it. We’ll do what’s best for him.”

Before the Santa Anita Handicap, Best Pal suffered a quarter crack on his left hind leg. A patch was put on and he went on to beat Twilight Agenda by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:59 for the 1 1/4 miles.

Six others are expected to enter this morning: Twilight Agenda, Sea Cadet, Fly So Free, Jarrarr, Total Assets and Crafty Cash.

A disappointing fourth in the Razorback Handicap in his initial start of 1992, Fly So Free went a half-mile Wednesday morning in 46 1/5, galloped out five furlongs in 58 3/5 and pulled up in 1:12 for six furlongs.

While he was tending to Best Pal in Hot Springs, Jones padded his lead in the Santa Anita trainer standings Wednesday.

Jones was ahead of Ron McAnally by three wins going into the final 16 days of the meeting, but he doubled his lead with three wins Wednesday, including a $19.80 upset by Miss Turkana in the $81,975 Providencia Stakes. He won earlier with maiden Hollyfrankie in the third and favored Andrassy in the fifth.

Making her first start on turf, Miss Turkana led every step of the way in beating 9-1 shot Red Bandana by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:47 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles. In scoring for the third time in 10 starts, the 3-year-old Turkoman filly also brightened what has been a long season for jockey Antonio Castanon. The victory was only his fourth in 140 mounts and only his second stakes success at Santa Anita and first since he won the 1986 San Simeon Handicap with Estate.

More Than Willing, the 9-5 second choice, was third, three lengths behind Red Bandana and it was another five to Hopeful Amber, the 6-5 favorite.

“She won easy,” Castanon said. “They said she was ready. They told me to put her on the lead and see what happens. When I put her behind horses, she tries to run off. She likes to be in front. She doesn’t like to be behind other horses. She fights me.”

The Oaklawn Handicap will be simulcast at Santa Anita Saturday, and so will the $300,000 California Derby from Golden Gate Fields.

A field of nine is likely for the 1 1/8 mile race, including Disposal, Treekster and Arp.

A full brother to Dispersal, Disposal won the first start of his life at the distance of the Derby. He had his final work Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, going five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 for trainer Bruce Headley. Alex Solis rode the colt in his debut, but he’ll be riding Sea Cadet at Oaklawn, so Gary Stevens has the mount.

Treekster was third in the Jim Beam Stakes while Arp, the former claimer, was second to Bertrando in the San Felipe.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Ron McAnally will be earning a lot of frequent-flier miles during the next week. He will head today to Oaklawn Park to saddle Sea Cadet Saturday and Race The Wild Wind in Sunday’s Fantasy, then he’ll go to England to watch Dr. Devious run in the Craven Stakes April 16 at Newmarket, then go back to Arkansas to see Paseana compete in the Apple Blossom April 17. A birthday gift from Jenny Craig to her husband, Sidney, Dr. Devious is expected to start in the Kentucky Derby after the Craven. . . . Exbourne, who came down with colic last summer while preparing for the Arlington Million, will make his first start since July in Sunday’s $150,000 El Rincon Handicap at one mile. Tight Spot will skip the race. . . . Reckless Ruckus, who made it three straight victories with a win in the Baldwin Stakes in his last start, broke down last Saturday while working for Saturday’s San Pedro Stakes and had to be destroyed. . . . Sherwood C. Chillingworth, has been appointed vice president and general counsel of the Oak Tree Racing Assn. and will succeed Ray Rogers, Oak Tree’s current executive vice president, when Rogers retires at the start of 1993. . . . Gary Jones now has 31 wins at Santa Anita from 141 starters.