Columnist Ralph Siraco: Came Home, Mizzen Mast race to Calif. wins

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 4, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Santa Anita hosted a pair of weekend races that proved entertaining if not conclusive.

The $400,000 Strub Stakes welcomed some of the nation's better 4-year-olds.

Only three horses in the field survived last year's Santa Anita Derby to make this first showdown of their 4-year-old campaigns: Jim Dandy winner Scorpion, I Love Silver, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby to Point Given, and Palemeiro. None of those hit the board in the Strub.

Mizzen Mast won the Malibu Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita when he was technically still a 3-year-old -- he won the race on Dec. 26. Western Pride, who won three derbies last year, won the San Fernando Stakes on Jan. 12 to set up the battle.

While there were 11 runners lined up for the 1 1/8-mile Grade II race, it quickly became a runaway for Mizzen Mast. Sitting off quick fractions provided by early pacesetter Orientate while pushed by Western Pride, Mizzen Mast sat in the catbird seat until the equine seas parted at the top of the homestretch.

Western Pride was done, Orientate was gone and the others were window dressing as Mizzen Mast rolled home under Kent Desormeaux for a solid victory and his third win in a row. He now sits as the top 4-year-old contender for the Santa Anita Handicap in early March.

Earlier, the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes was renewed at seven furlongs. Although there seem to be no serious contenders for the Derby from the Grade II event, there is certainly some interest in that possibility from the camp of the winner.

Came Home, who made his sophomore debut, rolled to a workmanlike victory over Jack's Sliver and Werblin. The son of Gone West returned to his winning ways under Chris McCarron. Owners John Toffan and Judy McCaffery will confer with trainer Paco Gonzalez as to their ultimate plans, which could include the Santa Anita Derby.

At Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Showmeitall captured the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes at seven furlongs. After dueling for the lead with Royal Lad, the son of All Gone held off Monthir in a photo finish. Under a patented "chop chop" ride by Jorge Chavez, Showmeitall won his first graded race to take down the winner's share of the $150,000 purse while turning the tables on race favorite Maybry's Boy, who defeated him in the Grade III Spectacular Bid on Jan. 3. A Florida Derby start may be forthcoming.

Trainer Bobby Frankel's Lido Palace flopped on Sunday at Santa Anita. The Chilean-bred import, who won the Grade I Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park last fall while beating eventual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow, hasn't shaken off his late November eighth-place finish in the Japan Cup at Tokyo. Although his works suggested a fit performance, Lido Palace was dull and never threatened Redattore while finishing off the board in the Grade II San Antonio Handicap. Lido may now be in limbo.

Finally, for those who bet the Rams in the Super Bowl on Sunday, take solace in the fact that you aren't a backer of Zippy Chippy. The 11-year-old gelding has what is believed to be a North American record of losses. Zippy Chippy ran his infamous losing streak to 92 when he failed -- again -- to win a maiden race at Penn National on Thursday night. He was beaten by over 32 lengths by the winner.