The Veterans Have Their Day

The seventh race on a normal weekday card at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park or Del Mar is usually the day’s feature race.

This afternoon, on the 82nd of 85 programs in Arcadia, the seventh is a $62,500 claimer for older horses going 11/8 miles on the turf.

Before scoffing at the fact the race is a claimer, take note that the eight entrants have combined to win 47 races from 205 starts and earned over $1.7 million.

The richest of the eight veterans--and the 3-1 morning line favorite--is Martiniquais.

A 9-year-old horse trained by Bobby Frankel for owner Ed Gann, the Irish-bred has banked $680,869 while winning 10 of 42. Victories have been rarer in recent years, however.

He is only one for 11 since the beginning of 2001, but five of his lifetime wins have come at today’s distance.

A former Frankel runner, Quianlong, is second in the field in terms of wins with nine.

A loser in his first three starts of the year, the 7-year-old Zilzal horse won in his third race for trainer Mike Mitchell, beating $50,000 claimers on April 6.

He will again be ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr.

Four races earlier, Snowflake will go for her third win in as many U.S. starts when she takes on only four rivals going a mile on the turf.

Race of the day: De Bertie, who has won nine of 22, will attempt to improve to six for 11 at 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Doubledogdare at Keeneland. Her opponents include the Frankel-trained Waki Music, who will be making her first start on dirt.

Who’s hot: Robby Albarado. The jockey began the week at Keeneland on top of the standings with 17 victories.

Who’s not: Ricardo Zamora. The trainer, who will start longshot Flower Lane in today’s eighth at Santa Anita, is 0 for 19 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Snowflake in the third, using Rock Cod Johnny, Splendid Times and A One Rocket in the fourth, and using Ace’s Valentine and Charlie’s Good Girl in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/223. Money: Previous day/meet total: $11.60/$1,288.84. Total money bet: $1,394.