A Big Upset Turns Into Big Letdown

Trainer Vladimir Cerin and owners David and Holly Wilson almost had another major upset in a Grade I race at Hollywood Park.

Nearly five months after Early Pioneer’s shocker in the Gold Cup, Designed For Luck, a 58-1 shot, crossed the wire first in Sunday’s $500,000 Early Times Hollywood Derby, but was disqualified and placed fifth for interfering with Zentsov Street and Walkslikeaduck.

The prime beneficiary of the decision by stewards Dave Samuel, Tom Ward and George Slender was Brahms, the 17-10 favorite, who was moved up from second to first after finishing a head behind the original winner.

This provided the 3-year-old Danzig colt with his fourth consecutive win for owner Tom Van Meter and trainer Elliott Walden and gave jockey Pat Day his second Derby victory.

The stewards ruled that Designed For Luck, under left-handed whipping from jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., impeded Zentsov Street and Walkslikeaduck approaching the wire. After several minutes of deliberation, they made their decision to disqualify Designed For Luck, who, like Early Pioneer, was claimed by the Wilsons from John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm.

Even though many observers agreed with the disqualification, Cerin obviously wasn’t happy with the call.

“It did not affect the order of finish, which is what they rule when my horses get bothered,� he said. “The best horse won. The horse that was favored was second best. He wasn’t affected in any way.

“[Zentsov Street] wasn’t t affected in any way. Now, to tell me that some horse [Walkslikeaduck] that ran a medicore fifth gets to be moved up to fourth is absolutely moronic.�

Chris McCarron, who rode Zentsov Street, and Eddie Delahoussaye, who was on Walkslikeaduck, felt they were cost a placing.

“Laffit’s horse was drifting through the lane and took away room from myself and Eddie,� said McCarron. “Neither Eddie or I could finish riding our horses and both horses were running.

“I think we were going to beat David Copperfield [who was moved up to second]. I don’t know if we were going to beat Laffit or not. But, in my opinion, it did cost me third money, so I think they made the right decision.�

Day also said he was bothered a bit and that it might have kept him from winning the photo. Brahms got his fifth career victory and he has now scored at four different tracks this year. He has also won at Saratoga, Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

“It did get a little rough in the stretch run,� he said. “It’s bittersweet. You like to win them outright, but those things happen and we’re just pleased with the victory.�

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Trainer Ron McAnally picked the right time to win his first race at Hollywood Park’s fall meet.

Unable to click with his first 13 starters, the Hall of Famer got the money in the $500,000 Matriarch when 5-2 second choice Tout Charmant beat 5-2 favorite Tranquility Lake by a head in the Grade I race.

Three weeks after giving Perfect Sting all she could handle when second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, Tout Charmant, who gave McCarron his record fifth Matriarch win, prevailed in a stretch-long duel to win in a rapid 1:46 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf. The final time equaled the stakes record set by Flawlessly in 1992.

Owned by Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable, the 4-year-old Slewvescent filly won for the third time in seven starts in 2000. She hasn’t been worse than third since she was purchased by her current connections in April.

“She’s unbelievable,� McAnally said. “She’s really a classy filly. Everything that she has done for us since we’ve had her has been good.�

McAnally indicated Tout Charmant, who pushed her career earnings to $1,576,704, will return to race next year, but she will get an extended vacation.

“It was a thrilling race, that’s for sure,� said McCarron. “She’s just dead game. She obviously doesn’t have to take her track with her. She runs well everywhere. She has improved a great deal since the summer.�

Tranquility Lake, who got the lead after Lady At Peace set 23 2/5, 47 and 1:10 3/5 splits for the first six furlongs, wound up 1 1/4 lengths ahead of defending champion Happyanunoit.

Horse Racing Notes

The disqualification in the Hollywood Derby was the first in a major stakes race locally since The Wicked North was disqualified in the 1994 Santa Anita Handicap. . . Jockey Corey Black won with the final mount of his career when 15-1 shot Tripp To Albadou rallied through a sizable hole on the rail to win Sunday’s ninth race. Honored in a winner’s circle ceremony earlier in the day, Black, 31, is starting a new career as Gary Stevens’ agent. He had won two races at Golden Gate Fields on Friday and finished with 1,526 victories. . . . Favored T.M. Opera O won the $4.85 million Japan Cup in Tokyo. The win left the 4-year-old son of Opera House unbeaten in seven starts this year. He completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:26 1/5 in beating Meisho Doto by a neck. John’s Call was ninth and Timboroa, who is trained by Bobby Frankel and was ridden by David Flores, checked in 11th in the field of 16.