THOROUGHBRED RACING : Exbourne Wins the El Rincon Despite Layoff

Both trainer Bobby Frankel and jockey Gary Stevens were happy to have the $162,500 El Rincon Handicap out of the way.

The Grade II race marked Exbourne’s return after a near-fatal bout with colic and almost nine months on the sidelines. Although he wasn’t primed for his absolute best effort, the 6-year-old Explodent horse had enough class to get the job done.

After having some traffic troubles around the far turn, the 4-5 favorite beat 11-1 shot Repriced by a head in 1:33 1/5 for the mile on turf.

Stevens never hit Exbourne with the whip, but it was anything but an easy race.

“He had to run much harder today than I was hoping,” Stevens said after Exbourne’s eighth victory in 14 starts. “I figured he would get tired. He had to lay his body down the last eighth of a mile to get by Repriced.

“It was the kind of workout he needed to get totally fit. He’s been working well, but he hasn’t been asked to do anything. (Frankel) didn’t know where he was going to run him.”

After returning to training about four months ago, Exbourne’s comeback race was delayed because of rain earlier in the year.

“It’s nice to get this one over with,” Frankel said. “Now, we can just treat it like it was last year. I thought he was dropping back on the turn.

“This will be good for him. It’ll get some of the fat off of him. I’ll probably come back in the Hollywood Turf Handicap (next month) with him.”

The longest shot in the field, Repriced controlled the pace, led by three lengths after a 1:09 1/5 six furlongs, still led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to run and didn’t quit. Madjaristan came from last to third, nearly two lengths behind Repriced and a neck in front of Blaze O’Brien. Native Boundary was fifth and Bistro Garden last. Notorious Pleasure and Dominion Gold were scratched.

Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bertrando, scheduled to leave for Churchill Downs Sunday, and stablemate Disposal won’t be going for about two weeks.

“That spreads me out too much,” trainer Bruce Headley said of his decision to wait. “I gallop both horses, and can’t split them up.”

A full brother to Dispersal, Disposal earned his shot at the Kentucky Derby with a second-place finish in Saturday’s California Derby. Disposal was beaten by a neck by Treekster. It was only the second career start for Disposal.

“(Treekster) had a perfect trip,” Headley said. “My horse got carried out in the first turn and pinched back. He pulled up good and will be back here (Sunday night). It’s going to be an interesting year.”

The leader every step of the way under Gary Boulanger, Treekster is also bound for Louisville. “He’s going,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said Sunday. “He’ll leave about three or four days (before the Kentucky Derby). We’ll keep him here because he likes it here.”

Cerin and Alan Landsburg, who owns 44% of the Badger Land colt, had been uncertain about the possibility of sending the horse to Kentucky for the second time in about six weeks.

Treekster had finished a troubled third in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park March 28.

Trainer Gary Jones said he will meet with owner John Mabee before deciding whether or not Best Pal will run in the Pimlico Special on May 9, the next race in the American Championship Racing Series.

“We’ll either bring him back to Hollywood Park or go to Pimlico,” Jones said the day after Best Pal won for the fourth time in as many 1992 starts. “If he’s going to run (in the Special), he’ll need to work over the track.”

Jones didn’t think Best Pal particularly liked the Oaklawn track Saturday. “I don’t think he got a hold of it very well, but he got the job done,” he said.

Race The Wild Wind held off Golden Treat by a neck, giving California a 1-2 finish in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

Ridden by Chris McCarron and trained by Ron McAnally, Race The Wild Wind paid $4.40 as the 6-5 favorite and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 3/5 for her third consecutive victory. Golden Treat, who had won the Santa Anita Oaks, was ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

At Keeneland, Pleasant Tap came from last to win the $186,250 Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup by 2 1/2 lengths.

Eddie Delahoussaye was aboard the 4-5 favorite, who covered the seven furlongs in 1:22 2/5. To Freedom was second, a nose in front of Run On The Bank. Cardmania, who had won two in a row at Santa Anita, was fourth as the 5-2 second choice.

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Charlie Whittingham will turn 79 today. . . . With his victory Saturday, Best Pal moved into 11th place on the all-time earnings list with $3,388,695 and he passed Snow Chief ($3,383,210) as the richest California-bred. . . . Gary Stevens, Alex Solis and Pat Valenzuela all won twice Sunday. . . . Paseana was given highweight of 124 pounds for Friday’s $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.