Irish Prize’s Victory Earns High Grades

On the first day of 2001, Irish Prize did something he had failed to do in 2000.

The 5-year-old gelding won a graded stakes race, running to a half-length victory in the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap Monday at Santa Anita.

No better than second in his three tries in graded events last year for trainer Neil Drysdale, the 6-1 fourth choice rallied on the outside to defeat an unlucky Manndar, the 6-5 favorite, in 1:47 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Owned by Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum, the son of Irish River was reluctant to enter the starting gate but won for the fourth time in nine U.S. starts and has won three of four when ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

“I had a trip to die for,” said Desormeaux. “When we turned for home, there was no hole, but the horses that were on my outside couldn’t keep up with the leaders anymore. I was able to slide out and go forward. It was perfect timing for us.

“Everything worked out really, really nice and the horse was up to the challenge.”

Manndar, a double Grade I winner last year for trainer Beau Greely, had nowhere to go for most of the stretch, then finished strong once clear to wind up a length in front of 30-1 shot Here Comes Big C. This was the second consecutive troubled journey for Manndar, who had finished fifth in the Citation Handicap on Nov. 25 at Hollywood Park.

“That’s what happens on a turf course with an eighth of a mile to the wire,” said Corey Nakatani, the rider on the runner-up. “You’re better off riding a bad race than a good race.”

Drysdale, who had last won the San Gabriel in 1989 with Wretham, indicated Irish Prize, who pushed his career earnings to $299,003, will get some rest. Monday’s race was the ninth since June 18 for the 5-year-old.

“He’s been pretty consistent,” said Drysdale. “It took us a bit of a time to get him organized, but he’s been steadily progressing. I think we’ll probably give him some rest because we’ve been banging on him pretty much.”

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Go Go, the 7-5 favorite, remained unbeaten in three starts at Santa Anita with a half-length victory over Filigree in the $109,100 Survive Stakes.

With jockey Gary Stevens taking over for the suspended Eddie Delahoussaye, the 4-year-old Falstaff filly took the lead around the turn from her inside post, drew clear, then held off a late run by 8-1 shot Filigree to win in 1:03 3/5 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.

Trained by Warren Stute for Thomas and Thomas Racing, Go Go has won three in a row and four of nine in her career.

“She’s a very easy filly to train,” said Stute. “We’ll just keep her sprinting until she gets beat. She’s won on the turf and the dirt, so she’s pretty versatile.

“Gary’s a great rider. He rode Magical Maiden for us and she won nearly a million dollars, so I have a lot of confidence in him.”

Filigree, who had one horse beat for the first three furlongs, outfinished 26-1 shot Pert Laura by a half-length for second, then came defending champion Image Of Glory, Phaenna, Fair Apache, Miss Special Style and Ex Miss Fuzz, who had to be vanned off the track after she returned bleeding from her nostrils.

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Hawksley Hill, who last started on Nov. 27, 1999, will make his comeback for Drysdale in Thursday’s seventh race, an optional claimer with a $72,000 purse.

An 8-year-old gelded son of Rahy, Hawksley Hill has won 13 of 42 in his career and earned nearly $1.58 million, but is best known in recent years for his narrow losses in some major races. He was beaten by a head by Da Hoss in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile, then was beaten in photos in the Arcadia and Explosive Bid Handicaps and the Early Times Turf Classic.

In his last appearance, Hawksley Hill was fourth, beaten by less than a length, by Brave Act in the Grade II Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park. Two races before that, he crossed the wire first in the Atto Mile at Woodbine but was disqualified.

Completing the field are Sardaukar, Redattore, El Cielo, who will try a flat mile after winning four turf sprints in a row for trainer Craig Dollase, Groover and Super Quercus, who was scratched from the San Gabriel.

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Gulfstream Park will begin its meet Wednesday and the opening-day feature is the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes, the first prep for the Florida Derby. A field of 10 newly turned 3-year-olds was entered and the likely favorite is Tru Bull. A son of Holy Bull owned by William Condren and trained by Nick Zito, Tru Bull will be ridden by Pat Day. The rest of the field for the six-furlong race, from the inside out: Drumcliff, Alaskan Star, American Century, Ivars Mayham, Friday’s A Comin’, Diablo’s Choice, Icanseetherain, Waltz King and Royal Future.

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Eagleton ($76.60) won the $100,000 Lafayette Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. Yaralino was second and Montemiro was third. Eagleton, trained by ‘Kevin Lewis for owner Dennis Weir, completed the mile on a yielding turf course in 1:38 1/5 under jockey Ken Tohill. . . . Surfside, who may make her 4-year-old debut in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes on Jan. 21, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Monday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas. . . . Freespool, who won the El Conejo Handicap for a second consecutive time Sunday, came out of the race well and is expected to return in the Palos Verdes Handicap on Jan. 28. The Palos Verdes is expected to mark the first start of 2001 for 2000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Kona Gold. . . . Favored Coyote Lakes skimmed the rail under jockey Chuck Lopez to win the $100,000-added Gallant Fox Handicap at Aqueduct. The Arizona-bred gelding has won three in a row and four of his last five for owner Roddy Valente and trainer Bruce Levine.