Sixieme Sens Takes Her Place in the Spotlight

Even if Sixieme Sens isn’t in the class of Possibly Perfect and Wandesta, the last two Eclipse Award winners as top female turf performer, she isn’t a bad substitute in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn.

A winner of four of eight starts in 1996, the 5-year-old Septieme Ciel mare began the new year with a half-length victory over favored Alpride in the $132,950 San Gorgonio Handicap. The Grade II was the same race Wandesta used to begin her championship year.

Owned by Charles Kenis & 3+U Stable, Sixieme Sens has missed the board only once in nine American starts since arriving from France.

The poor effort came over the Santa Anita turf course, which might have concerned some going into the San Gorgonio. She had finished eighth of nine in the Louis R. Rowan Handicap last Oct. 26.

However, Frankel was optimistic she would rebound and had reasons for her lackluster effort.

“She didn’t break well that day, got behind a slow pace and nobody closed any ground,” he said after she won in 1:47 for the 1 1/8 miles and paid $8.40 as the 3-1 second choice. She was coupled in the betting with Wheatly Special, who finished last.

“She wanted to run, but had no place to go. [Jockey] Corey [Nakatani] got her in a good position today. She doesn’t have to be last. She doesn’t really quicken, she’s a nice, steady running filly. She wears you down more than anything.”

Nakatani is perfect in two tries with Sixieme Sens, having won the Dahlia Handicap last month at Hollywood Park. “She’s a nice mare, tries hard and she beat a group of competitive horses today,” he said. “Hopefully, she can replace Wandesta. She’s got ability, tries, so hopefully that will be the situation.”

The 2-1 choice, Alpride had no excuses and she remains winless since the 1995 Yellow Ribbon. Grafin, the pacesetter for the first mile, finished third, a length behind Alpride.

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Let the hype begin again.

Ten months after his last victory in the Florida Derby, Unbridled’s Song returned to the winner’s circle Sunday at Gulfstream Park, beating two challengers in the $58,250 Olympic Handicap.

Winless in four starts since the Florida Derby, including a defeat in his first race for trainer Nick Zito, Unbridled’s Song tracked Appealing Skier for the first half-mile, then drew clear in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths. He completed the seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5 and paid $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite. Appealing Skier was second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Splendid Sprinter.

“You can never be totally confident going into a race, but I was extremely happy with the way he was training,” said Zito, who replaced Jim Ryerson as the colt’s trainer for owner Ernie Paragallo.

“When we got down to Florida [from New York], we watched every detail and it paid off. [Unbridled’s Song] responded.”

Treated with Lasix for the first time Sunday, Unbridled’s Song will probably make his next start in the $300,000 Donn Handicap on Feb. 8, which is the race in which Skip Away is scheduled to make his 1997 debut.

Horse Racing Notes

Marlin, who was second in the Hollywood Turf Cup after winning the Hollywood Derby, is the 8-5 favorite against seven rivals in the $150,000 San Marcos Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The race also marks the return of Sandpit, the 2-1 second choice who hasn’t raced since checking in third in the Arlington Million last summer. . . . Earlier on the card, Listening is the 2-1 choice against 10 other 4-year-old fillies in the $125,000 El Encino Stakes. . . . Trainer Jenine Sahadi continued her hot streak. She won the first, the $71,400 Sensational Star Handicap with Skywalker’s Choice, then came back with 8-1 shot Candelotto in the eighth. She has now won with 10 of her 18 starters at the meeting. . . . Trainer Craig Dollase was fined $300 for a medication violation by the Santa Anita stewards. The horse involved was Missoula Lula, who won the seventh race on Dec. 18 at Hollywood Park. . . . Corey Nakatani and Gary Stevens both won three times Sunday.