SANTA ANITA : Exchange’s Victory Is Work of Art

Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay saw a statue unveiled in his honor Sunday, then rode Exchange to a narrow victory over Trishyde in the $210,400 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita.

Exchange and Pincay had to overcome a foul claim by Chris McCarron, the rider of Trishyde, before the $120,000 victory was official. Claimed by trainer Bill Spawr for $50,000 on behalf of Sidney and Jenny Craig in 1991, Exchange increased her earnings to $766,675.

The early leader, Exchange was overtaken by Trishyde in the stretch, then Pincay’s mount came on again in the final strides to win by a nose. The stewards ruled that both horses were responsible for bumping in the stretch.

Exchange carried 121 pounds, one more than favored Trishyde for the 1 1/4-mile turf race. Exchange, timed in 2:02 1/5, paid $4.60 as the second choice in a field of only four horses. The 5-year-old mare finished the Santa Anita meeting with three consecutive victories after finishing second in her first start of the year.

Notes

Star Of Cozzene, who will accompany Personal Hope to Kentucky to run in the Early Times Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on April 30, will run next Saturday, on trainer Mark Hennig’s 28th birthday, in the El Rincon Stakes at Santa Anita. Hennig has a chance to be one of youngest trainers to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye has landed the mount on Jovial next Saturday in the $750,000 Oaklawn Park Handicap.