Super May Runs His Win Streak to 4 in Santa Gertrudes Handicap

Sixteen in a row it’s not, but Super May has put together a nice little win streak himself.

Trainer Richard Mandella’s 4-year-old son of Super Concorde made it four consecutive victories with a three-quarters of a length triumph over Royal Reach in the $81,750 Santa Gertrudes Handicap Saturday at Santa Anita.

Lightly-raced at 2 and 3, Super May has blossomed this year and he has definitely found a home on turf. The Santa Gertrudes was his third win in five outings on the grass. He was second in one of his defeats and in the other, he had all kinds of trouble and finished fourth, losing by a length.

The 17-10 favorite Saturday, Super May tracked 2-1 second choice Royal Reach for a good portion of the race, took over with about three furlongs to run and won in 1:59 4/5 for 1 1/4-miles.

“He’s really gotten good,” Mandella said. “We thought he was a good horse last year. It was very frustrating, because he didn’t show the quality we thought he had. He had some physical problems, so we turned him out and blistered him.

“He came back the horse we thought he’d be. The opportunity of being able to rest allowed him to grow.”

Super May’s sixth win from 14 lifetime starts also left owner Jack Kent Cooke 1-1 Saturday. Earlier, his Single Dawn had finished a distant fifth in the Santa Anita Derby.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this horse run,” Cooke said. “He happens to be my wife’s (Marlena)) favorite horse.”

No doubt, Robbie Davis is also quite fond of him. He has been Super May’s rider throughout the win streak.

“This is my first stakes win of the year and it feels so nice to get one,” said Davis. “I’ve been second in so many. We figured there would be more pace, but he did what he had to and responded real well.

“He’s a very game, competitive horse. Dick has done a real good job spacing his races.”

Royal Reach, who was beaten in a $32,000 claiming race last November, was a 1 1/2-lengths better than 12-1 shot Malo Malo, who beat 5-2 third choice Pahlwaan for the show.

Mister Frisky wasn’t Gary Stevens’ only impressive winner Saturday.

Patches, a 3-year-old daughter of Majestic Light, toyed with favored Forest Fealty in taking the third race by two and a half lengths while covering the six furlongs in a solid 1:09 3/5.

This came eight days after she had made her 1990 debut, where she overcame a bad beginning to beat Tante Phyllis a half-length.

Instead of regressing, like many horses do when brought back quickly after a long layoff, Patches improved. Before her March 30 victory, she had undergone arthroscopic surgery to remove a small bone chip and had been away since Sept. 3.

Patches provides added depth to Wayne Lukas’ already deep 3-year-old filly division. Other members of the class include Hail Atlantis, Rue De Palm, Stella Madrid, Bright Candles and Seaside Attraction.

“I haven’t had a horse win as easy as she did in a long time,” said Stevens, who won four times in all Saturday. “Wayne told me before the race the other day, that she was probably a work away from her best.

“She stumbled away from the gate, was dead-tired at the eighth pole and still went on and won. I had a lot of confidence in her today.”

Horse Racing Notes

There was some thought to scratching Final Factor, who rallied from far back to win the second race at $146.20 under apprentice Chris Davenport, after he came onto the track. A prominent trainer, owner and others commented on how the 4-year-old Impressive gelding looked lame and the stewards also expressed their concern. However, Final Factor, who was making his first start for trainer Paul Walker, warmed up to the satisfaction of Davenport and track veterinarian Dr. Ray Baran, so he was allowed to participate.