SANTA ANITA : Large Lineup Eager for the San Felipe

While Horse of the Year Sunday Silence is galloping at Santa Anita for a return to the races this summer, a large lineup of sophomores is hoping to succeed him in the winner’s circle of the $150,000-added Grade II San Felipe Handicap at 1-1/16 miles Sunday.

The San Felipe, a major prep for the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, provided Sunday Silence with his first stakes victory last year and was a steppingstone to victories in the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Super Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic and national championship honors.

As many as 13 are considered probable for the San Felipe: Silver Ending, Gary Stevens, 121 pounds; Tsu’s Dawning, Chris McCarron, 120; Pleasant Tap, Eddie Delahoussaye, 119; Drag Race, Gary Boulanger, 118; Land Rush, Angel Cordero Jr., 117; Music Prospector, Frank Olivares, 117; Robyn Dancer, Patrick Valenzuela, 117; Warcraft, no rider assigned, 117; Flying Reb, Kent Desormeaux, 116; French Seventyfive, no rider assigned, 116; Farma Way, Ray Sibille, 115; Real Cash, Alex Solis, 113, and Video Ranger, no rider assigned, 113.

Charlie Whittingham, trainer of Sunday Silence and Warcraft, said he isn’t sure if the latter will run. “I’ll enter and see,” Whittingham said. “It depends on things like the post position and how he’s doing.”

Horseshoes will be given to fans at Santa Anita as the track celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, and among the attractions will be a number of celebrities trying their hand at blacksmithing skills.

The traditional highlight of St. Patrick’s Day at Santa Anita, the horseshoe pitching contest for five fans whose names are drawn at random, will take place on the main track after the seventh race. A ringer is worth $1 million; if no one hits a ringer, the toss closest to the stake is worth first prize of $10,000.

The horseshoes to be given to fans, while supplies last, are authentic racing plates worn by thoroughbreds in Southern California.

Robert Snell’s Fit To Scout hopes to finish one notch higher than her dam, Bee A Scout, in the $200,000-added Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, 3-year-old filly championship of the meeting Saturday.

Bee A Scout rallied to finish second in the 1981 Oaks, then called the Santa Susana Stakes, three-quarters of a length behind Nell’s Briquette. Bee A Scout, trained by Chuck Marikian, was ridden by Chris McCarron, who will ride Fit To Scout on Saturday. Nell’s Briquette was trained by Jack Van Berg, conditioner of Fit To Scout.

Fit To Scout, by Fit To Fight, was purchased for $95,000 at a Saratoga yearling sale by Van Berg for Snell, a former schoolmate from Nebraska. Fit To Scout won the La Centinela and Santa Ynez Stakes at this meet before finishing a troubled fourth in the Las Virgenes Stakes.

Something fabulous happened to trainer Don Warren at Santa Anita Wednesday. He won the faster and richer division of the La Habra Stakes on the hillside turf course with Somethingmerry.

“Those Somethingfabulouses always seem to move up on turf for me,” Warren said. “I’ve had luck with Some Sensation, Something Lucky, Just As Lucky and A Fabulous Time.”

Somethingmerry, by Somethingfabulous-My Mary, won the $60,700 division in 1:14 under Laffit Pincay Jr., for owners Betty, Bud and Judy Johnston of Old English Rancho.

“I thought she was a stakes filly for a long time,” Warren said. “I thought she had some class about her. She had to come off just breaking her maiden and win a stake. She’s well made, just the right size and bred for turf top and bottom.

“She came back fine and will stretch out to the Providencia at 1-1/8 miles on the turf (April 11) next. I know she will get a mile and an eighth. She’s a half sister to Proper Mary and My Sonny Boy, who both won going that far on turf.”

Warcraft worked a half mile in :46 Thursday morning for the San Felipe Handicap Sunday.

Two other San Felipe candidates also worked a half mile: Flying Reb in :47 breezing and Real Cash in :48 3/5. The $150,000-added Grade II San Felipe is for 3-year-olds at 1-1/16 miles.