SANTA ANITA : Bien Bien Carries Weight Well

The weight that Bien Bien has been gaining hasn’t been coming from the racing secretary’s office, which is the way trainer Paco Gonzalez likes it.

“When I weighed him after his last race, I was surprised,� Gonzalez said. “He had picked up 12 pounds, to 1,060 pounds.�

For Sunday’s $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Bien Bien was the highweight, but it was only 122 pounds, two less than he carried in winning the San Luis Rey Stakes on March 27. Bien Bien was nipped at the wire by Kotashaan, the eventual horse of the year, in last year’s San Juan, but this time there was nothing resembling Kotashaan in the field. Chris McCarron didn’t need his whip as Bien Bien won by three-quarters of a length over Grand Flotilla.

Earning $220,000 for his owners, Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan, Bien Bien paid $2.80, lowest win price in a series that was first run in 1935. The time for the distance of about 1 3/4 miles was 2:46 3/5, which was 1 3/5 seconds slower than Kotahsaan’s track-record time a year ago.

Grand Flotilla, who moved to the front in the run down the backside, finished two lengths ahead of Alex The Great.

A $100,000 yearling purchase, Bien Bien has won nine of 25 starts and earned $2.2 million. His grass record is eight victories in 17 starts, and Gonzalez said his next start is expected to be on May 30 in the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap, a race he won last year.

“He loves the turf course at Hollywood,� Gonzalez said. “After that, we might consider putting him back on dirt again, in the Hollywood Gold Cup.�

The $750,000 Gold Cup is scheduled for July 2. Before his victory in the San Luis Rey, Bien Bien returned to dirt for a solid third-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap.

In the San Juan, McCarron was content to be in fifth place early, behind Siebe, Afaladja, Navire and Grand Flotilla. When Eddie Delahoussaye and Grand Flotilla moved to the front, Bien Bien also kicked into gear, moving into second place. Bien Bien passed Grand Flotilla in the upper stretch.

Horse Racing Notes

Bien Bien gave Chris McCarron his 16th stakes victory, which leads the meet. “Even when Grand Flotilla made that run, I was pretty confident,� McCarron said. “I was confident all the way to the wire.�. . . . The season ends today with the San Jacinto Handicap. Square Cut, winner of a minor stake last month, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

The disqualification of Prince Ferdinand from fourth place to last in Saturday’s San Simeon Handicap resulted in a five-day suspension for jockey Chris Antley. The suspension starts Wednesday, opening day at Hollywood Park. . . . Lottery Winner, winless in six starts since his victory in the Goodwood Handicap in October, won Sunday’s Bates Motel Handicap. . . . The stakes-winning Quintana, who ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1991, was destroyed after breaking down in the seventh race.

Blumin Affair, beaten by a neck by Concern, is apparently the only Arkansas Derby starter going to Kentucky. Concern came from 15 lengths behind Saturday to win the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and looked like he wouldn’t have any problem with the extra furlong of the Kentucky Derby. “It’s awfully unlikely� that Concern will run May 7 at Churchill Downs, trainer Richard Small said Sunday. The son of Broad Brush was already headed for Maryland. Small took Broad Brush to the Kentucky Derby in 1986 and he finished third, beaten by three lengths by Ferdinand. Small said he didn’t want to return until he had a horse of comparable ability.

“We can have a monster year with this horse,� he said, citing the May 21 Preakness at Pimlico. “Usually you have five horses going back to California after the Derby,� Small said. “That’s part of the beauty of being there (in Maryland). All I’ve got to do is put a bridle on him and lead him over.�

Blumin Affair has won twice in eight starts, but he was second to Brocco in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November and second to Smilin Singin Sam in the Remington Park Derby.

“He ran a good race,� trainer Jack Van Berg, who won the 1987 Kentucky Derby with Alysheba, said of the Arkansas Derby. “He should be right. We’re ready.�

At Remington, Alex Solis had Blumin Affair more than a dozen lengths behind and made up 10 lengths in the stretch. After that race, Van Berg said Solis let the son of Dynaformer get too far behind. On Saturday, Blumin Affair, with Eddie Delahoussaye aboard, was eighth after a half-mile, but only about six lengths off the leader. “That was a little closer than I thought he’d be,� Van Berg said.

Ride The Rails, the favorite in the Arkansas Derby, ran an even race and finished fourth, beaten by about four lengths. “The Kentucky Derby is out,� trainer Jim Bracken said. “He had them in his sights and he couldn’t get there.� He said Ride The Rails would go back to Florida.

Gash won the $65,000 New York Stallion Stakes Times Square Division by five lengths over Memories of Linda at Aqueduct. Fini Cassette was another three lengths back in third in the field of six New York-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings. Under jockey Robbie Davis, Gash took command early before drawing away in the stretch. He covered the mile in 1:35 4/5 over the fast main track. The Mary Eppler-trained gelded son of Distinctive Pro, sent off as the 7-5 favorite, earned his third victory in six lifetime starts and $39,000 for owner Alfred G. Vanderbilt. The winner returned $4.80 and $2.80. Memories of Linda paid $3. There was no show wagering. In the Park Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes, Minetonightsfirst scored a 1 1/2-length victory over Come On Joy, with Tensie’s Pro another 3 1/4 lengths back in third in the field of six New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. The winner returned $4.60, $3.20 and $2.20. Come On Joy paid $4.40 and $2.20, and Tensie’s Pro returned $2.20.

Devil May Due, ridden by Kevin Murray, won his third consecutive race at Sportsman’s Park, an eighth-length victory in the $25,520 Intensitivo Purse.