Georgie Boy returns from vacation to win San Vicente

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Santa Anita, 8th Race - Feb. 10, 2008

Georgie Boy returned from a five-month vacation to win by 3 lengths Sunday over Into Mischief.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Georgie Boy covered 7 furlongs in 1:20.01 and paid $7.80 and $3.20.

Into Mischief returned $2.60 as the 7-5 wagering favorite. Massive Drama was another length back in third and Red Hot Flame was fourth.

Georgie Boy had been idle since winning the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 5. Trainer Kathy Walsh said nothing was wrong with the colt, she just wanted to freshen him up.

"He was a little upset today. He was a little rank the first quarter-mile, then he settled," said Walsh, a 67-year-old whose only other Kentucky Derby starter finished seventh in 1998. "He seems to always run better from off the pace."

Georgie Boy has been stabled across town at Hollywood Park, so his training wasn't subjected to the repeated cancellations at Santa Anita because of rain.

The colt is owned and bred by George Schwary, a 75-year-old retired appliance dealer from nearby San Fernando whose wife named Georgie Boy.

Both Walsh and Schwary weren't rushing to jump on the Kentucky Derby trail.

"We got to take our steps one at a time," she said. "Let's not get going too fast."

Schwary added, "I don't want to jinx myself, but this is my first shot."

Trained by Richard Mandella, Into Mischief also was coming off a break, not having run since winning the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 22. But he's been housed at Santa Anita, where his training routine was inconsistent.

"It was a good start back," Mandella said. "Kathy Walsh's horse ran fabulous, but mine ran real good. I was lucky to get him to the races with what we had, but we got through that and at least we're still in the game."

Massive Drama led most of the way, then Into Mischief hooked up with him going into the stretch turn. But Georgie Boy came flying down the middle of the track and overhauled both of his rivals.

"We were trying to steal away and Into Mischief wouldn't let us," said Bob Baffert, who trains Massive Drama. "The winner looked pretty good."

It was Massive Drama's last race out of Baffert's stable. Owner Ahmed Zayat has told Baffert he will be moving the colt and three others to Steve Asmussen and/or Bill Mott.

Baffert also was training Triple Crown candidates Maimonides, a $4.6 million son of 2002 champion 2-year-old colt Vindication, and J Be K, a $350,000 son of Silver Deputy. Zayat owns two other top 3-year-olds: Z Fortune and Z Humor.

"You never want to lose horses, but he's frustrated with California," Baffert said. "We've all suffered this winter with the missed days."

Santa Anita lost 11 of the first 33 days of its meeting because the track's new synthetic surface failed to drain properly following major rainstorms and hail in January. A weeklong renovation project was completed Friday and racing resumed Saturday.

Gomez rode Massive Drama and said the colt was emptied out by the top of the stretch.

"I don't think he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse (the Kentucky Derby distance), but he's definitely a nice little sprinter," the jockey said.

Into Mischief's next start will likely be the $200,000 San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 15. Walsh was noncommittal about Georgie Boy's plans, although he's nominated to the $200,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas on the same day.

There was no show wagering because of the small San Vicente field, reduced to four when Cardinal Zin was scratched.

In the $200,000 La Canada Stakes, Dawn After Dawn led all the way and won by a length under Gomez. She ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:50.37.

The 4-year-old bay filly paid $4 and $2.80 and $2.20 as the even-money favorite. Say You Will returned $3 and $2.80, while Caressive was another one length back in third and paid $3.20 to show.

Gomez praised the renovated synthetic surface after his first race on it.

"I'm ecstatic about what I felt under me," he said. "It's kind of like Keeneland, but not fluffed up as much. The horses hit it and you can't feel it."

Ingrid the Gambler won the $75,000 Wishing Well Handicap by one length over Rockella. Joe Talamo guided the 4-year-old dark brown filly over 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.66.

She paid $20 to win. Foxysox was third in the field of 13.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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