She Digs In for Another Turf Victory

DEL MAR — Now that she has proven herself the queen of the 3-year-old filly turf division, Famous Digger may try to conquer a new world before this meeting ends.

Not long after Famous Digger, who was claimed for $40,000 last Jan. 31, held off Golden Arches and See You Soon to win the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks--her fourth consecutive victory on turf--trainer Barry Abrams said she may not be done yet here.

Owned by a partnership that includes Abrams’ brother David, Vic Johnson, Jack Nakkashian and Tom Roberts, the Quest For Fame filly could return against the boys in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1 or against older fillies and mares in the $125,000 Palomar Handicap on Sept. 6.

“She’s not even taking a deep breath,” he said after Famous Digger, the 11-10 favorite, provided him and jockey Brice Blanc with their first victory in a Grade I race. “She likes the course [she won the San Clemente Handicap three weeks earlier] and the bottom line is we only paid $40,000 for her, so everything else is gravy. Plus, she loves to run.”

Able to win from slightly off the pace in her three previous victories in her streak, Famous Digger went right to the front Sunday, opened up a five-length lead after six furlongs, got a breather, relinquished the lead briefly to See You Soon in the stretch, but battled back and won by a neck over the fast-finishing Golden Arches in 1:49 for the 1 1/8 miles.

No doubt, her latest success, which increased her career earnings to $410,665, will boost her value and bring some more offers to sell. However, the owners have already turned down a $600,000 offer and reiterated in a jam-packed and jubilant winner’s circle that she’s not for sale.

“This syndicate is about having fun,” said David Abrams. “It’s not about the money. She’s not going to be going anywhere.”

This would be good news for Blanc. She has provided two of his five victories at the 23-day-old meeting.

“She warmed up very well today,” Blanc said. “The best she’s ever done. She was nice and relaxed. She’s gotten very tense in the past, but today she was good.

“I didn’t want to go to the front with her like that to start, but she was so sharp, I just had to let her go on. When she straightened out on the backstretch, she took a deep breath and relaxed.

“When [See You Soon] came to me, I knew my filly still had something left. I knew she’d find more. Believe me, she’s a nice one.”

Making her first start in the U.S. after being purchased by trainer Ron McAnally for owner Sid Craig, Golden Arches--the 4-1 second choice--got up to defeat See You Soon by a head for the place, then came Swearingen, Green Jewel, Lets Get Cozzy, Numero Uno, Sagasious, Merry Krisoke and Cozy Blues, who was eased approaching the wire and was vanned off after the finish. Jockey Alex Solis said she took a bad step.

*

Unbeaten in three starts, Best Star is the 3-1 favorite on John DeSantis’ morning line against eight others in the $75,000-added Harry F. Brubaker Handicap today.

Trained by Bob Baffert for John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm, the 3-year-old Seattle Slew colt won two sprints at Hollywood Park, then stretched out around two turns for the first time here and won an allowance race by a half-length.

He returned to work in 1:11 3/5, the best of 13 drills at the distance on Aug. 12. Kent Desormeaux will replace the injured David Flores on Best Star.

Also in the field are Magellan, Cleante, Coup D’Argent--who will be making his first start since Nov. 26 and first for trainer Wayne Lukas--To Be Khaled, Region, Sharpest Image, New Century and Misnomer, the defending champion in the 1 1/16-mile Brubaker.

*

The most-competitive 2-year-old race of the meeting so far will run Wednesday in the $100,000-added Best Pal Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Old Topper is the likely favorite in the prep for the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 10, the final day of the meeting.

A son of Gilded Time, Old Topper has two seconds and a victory in four starts for trainer Noble Threewitt and has trained well locally. He was a troubled second to the then-undefeated K.O. Punch in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship last month.

The Best Pal field also includes three runners who were impressive in their debuts--King Of The Wild, Meadow Prayer and Souvenir Copy--and the unbeaten Billy Black, who won the Graduation Stakes over this track. Meadow Prayer and Billy Black will race coupled in the betting as both are owned by James Vreeland and trained by Hector Palma.

Majorbigtimesheet, who won the first two starts of his career before finishing third in the Hollywood Juvenile, Tryumphant, Cat Doctor and Thingamajig complete the field.

Horse Racing Notes

Kid Katabatic, a 6-1 shot ridden by Chris Loseth, upset heavily-favored Hesabull, who was ridden by Gary Stevens, in winning the $200,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash. In winning for the sixth time in nine starts, the 4-year-old Katowice gelding and 6-1 shot completed the distance in 1:34 1/5. . . . Jockey Alex Solis won three times Sunday.