Antley Is More Than Along for the Ride

DEL MAR —  In the past 10 days, trainer Julio Canani has won two stakes races with horses who previously had promised more than they delivered.

Both Astarabad, who was winless in his first four starts in North America before winning the Escondido Handicap on Aug. 4, and Regal Thunder, who had lost as the favorite in three of his last four before his 11-1 upset in Saturday’s $150,000 Pat O’Brien Handicap, had something in common.

Jockey Chris Antley, who can finish with anybody in the game and isn’t afraid to be aggressive, was aboard both 5-year-olds for the first time and could very well have been the difference.

A gelded son of Chief’s Crown, Regal Thunder won his first graded stakes, beating favored Christmas Boy by a nose in the O’Brien, completing the seven furlongs in 1:21.

Owned by a partnership that includes Jeff Dehaven and Malibu Valley Farms, Regal Thunder won for the fifth time in 19 starts and rebounded from recent losses at 4-5 and 11-10.

Christmas Boy, the 13-10 choice who was trying for a sweep of Del Mar’s sprint stakes after winning the Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap on July 25, lost nothing in defeat as he finished 5 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Bet On Sunshine.

“That was the Regal Thunder we know,” Canani said. “He worked super after his last race [he was second in an allowance sprint on July 23]. It looks like he’s coming around at the right time.”

Throwing in another stinker was Big Jag, the sprint sensation at Santa Anita earlier this year. A distant fourth in his comeback in the Bing Crosby, he regressed Saturday, finishing fifth.

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Three days after favored Yes It’s True struggled in the A Phenomenon Handicap, Yagli, the nation’s leading grass horse, finished seventh and last in the $400,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap at Saratoga.

In a race run over a turf course labeled good, the 3-5 favorite and 125-pound highweight never threatened under jockey Jerry Bailey, who also rode Yes It’s True to a third-place finish on Wednesday, and the 6-year-old son of Jade Hunter lost for the first time in four 1999 starts.

Honor Glide, who is rejuvenated at age 5 after winning only one of nine starts last year, easily won the Sword Dancer, scoring by 3 1/4 lengths over 6-1 shot Val’s Prince in 2:28 1/5 for the 1 1/2 miles. He paid $14.60 for owners Bonnie Heath Farm and Robert Schaedle and trainer Christophe Clement.

Ridden by Jose Santos, Honor Glide has won two of three races this year. He was second to Comic Strip in an allowance race on the Belmont Stakes card, then was the 9-1 winner of the Bowling Green Handicap last month at Belmont Park.

Horse Racing Notes

Fighting Falcon, who won the Cinema Handicap on June 5 at Hollywood Park, is the 3-1 favorite against eight other 3-year-olds in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap today at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. . . . Kaibo made a successful U.S. debut for trainer Craig Dollase, winning the $60,900 Relaunch Handicap. The 3-year-old, who was bred in England, is owned by Stephen Herold and paid $11.60.