SANTA ANITA : Trainer Jones Returns in Time for Best Pal’s ’94 Debut Today

Gary Jones said he enjoyed his 30-day vacation so much that he was ready to take another day off Friday.

“Fat chance,� the trainer said, quickly letting his visitor know he had been joking.

The day after his suspension for a positive drug test from one of his horses ended, Jones was in good spirits, relaxed and happy to be back at work.

Always a high-percentage outfit, the Jones stable flourished while the boss was away. Rafael Becerra, Jones’ longtime assistant, was the trainer of record for the barn during the suspension and had six winners from 28 starters through the first 18 days of the meeting. That left him tied with Jack Van Berg atop the standings.

“I had to get back before these guys took over,� Jones said. “My competitors are thrilled to see me back because it will get Rafael off their backs. I’ve always given the crew a lot of credit, and they did a great job. I’m real proud of everybody. I feel proud and fortunate.�

Used to working seven days a week, Jones said it took a while to adjust to having the time off.

“I started to relax a little (Thursday),� he said, referring to his first day back. “Seriously, the way I’m geared, it took me some time to relax, but I finally got to where I could.

“I got too fat. Sitting around doing nothing, (weight) comes on you quick.�

Jones and his wife, Joan, spent time skiing at Lake Tahoe and looking for a house in Del Mar, and visited the Texas homes of horse owners Mike Rutherford and Art and Jack Preston.

Jones’ return coincides with the 1994 debut of Best Pal, in the $158,300 San Pasqual Handicap today. The 6-year-old gelding will make his first start since a disastrous performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6.

Supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup for $360,000 by owners John and Betty Mabee, Best Pal finished 10th at 9-5, beating only Missionary Ridge, Miner’s Mark and Colonial Affair.

“It was a combination of a lot of things,� Jones said. “He didn’t school (in the paddock) right the day before and he left grain in his (feed) tub the night before, which isn’t like him. It wasn’t his kind of track that day. It was all dug and Laffit (Pincay on Diazo) kept him in tight.

“He’s doing good right now. A mile and a sixteenth is not his ideal distance and the rail can be a hassle at that distance, but you have to start somewhere.

“I would assume he would come back in the Santa Anita Handicap (on March 5), depending on how he runs (today) and what Mr. Mabee says.�

A winner of five of 11 starts at Santa Anita, Best Pal is the 5-2 favorite for the San Pasqual against six opponents. Corey Black will again ride the California-bred, who, as the 122-pound highweight, will be spotting from three to nine pounds to the rest of the field.

Star Recruit, who lost by a nose to Sir Beaufort in last year’s Santa Anita Handicap at 59-1, is the 3-1 second choice. The 5-year-old Al Nasr horse made his first start since the Big ‘Cap on New Year’s Eve, finishing third, a neck behind Slerp, in the Ack Ack Handicap.

Ibero, an easy winner of an allowance race last month at Hollywood Park, is the 4-1 third choice. Johann Quatz, who will be making his first start on dirt; Lottery Winner, Hill Pass and Manny’s Prospect are the other entrants.

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Scheduled to ride three horses Friday, Pat Valenzuela failed to show at Santa Anita without notifying the stewards.

“We’ve heard nothing,� said steward Pete Pedersen. “That’s all we can say.�

Valenzuela, who has a long history of skipping programs, has struggled through the early part of the Santa Anita, winning on only four of 60 mounts.

Pedersen said the jockey will have to meet with the stewards before he is allowed to ride again.

“We’re surprised (by his absence) and anxious to hear what his story is,� Pedersen said.

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Earlier on the card today, Wekiva Springs is the 6-5 favorite in the $79,650 Santa Catalina Stakes, the first prep for the Santa Anita and Kentucky derbies.

Owned by Donald Dizney and trained by Bob Hess Jr., Wekiva Springs is unbeaten in two races at 1 1/16 miles, the distance of the Santa Catalina. The Runaway Groom colt broke his maiden by 11 lengths, then after being sidelined because of a sore hoof, he beat Ferrara by three lengths in an allowance race on Jan. 3. Kent Desormeaux will ride.

Dream Trapp, who is perfect in two sprints, is the 2-1 second choice as he tries two turns. Duca, a stablemate to Brocco, is the 7-2 third choice and is also going for his third consecutive victory. The two other entrants are Gracious Ghost and Heavenly Crusade.

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Robannier, who won the California Juvenile at Bay Meadows on New Year’s Day, will seek his third consecutive victory in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby today.

The race, which will be simulcast at Santa Anita, also attracted Delineator, third at 2-5 in the California Juvenile, Flying Sensation, third in the Hollywood Futurity, and Tabasco Cat, who finished third behind Brocco and Blumin Affair in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his most recent start.