Look Back: Gamely Leads a Perry Sweep in 1968 Vanity

In conjunction with Tom Hall's Throwback Thursday features in BloodHorse Daily, BloodHorse.com each Thursday will present corresponding race stories from the pages of the magazine. 

This week is a race recap written by Robert Hebert of the 1968 Vanity Handicap won by Gamely at Hollywood Park. The race story carried the headline, "All Game for Gamely," and the subhead, "Perry filly under record California impost of 131 pounds leads one-two-three Vanity sweep," when it ran in the July 6, 1968 issue of BloodHorse magazine.

The story references trainer Jim Maloney leaning toward not entering Princessnesian against males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup, but as it turned out, she was entered and won the race.

When it came time to select a queen of the Hollywood Park season, the stable of William Haggin Perry won in a landslide.

Gamely, packing a record burden of 131 pounds, was victorious in the Vanity Handicap, the event that traditionally decides the distaff championship of the meeting, and the big daughter of Bold Ruler—Gambetta was followed by Princessnesian and Desert Law as the Perry stable swept the first three places in the 1 1/8-mile stakes.

The race, richest ever run at Hollywood Park exclusively for fillies and mares, grossed $79,650, with the Perry powerhouse collecting $72,150 for the one-two-three finish. It was the 12th stakes of the season won by Perry fillies, lifting the stable earnings to $306,775.

No filly or mare had ever carried more than 130 pounds in a race in California, and Gamely did it in 1:47 3/5, equaling the stakes record set in 1955 by Countess Fleet. She was giving three pounds to Princessnesian and beat her almost a length. In the Santa Margarita last winter at Santa Anita, they were noses apart at the wire with Gamely giving her stablemate five pounds.

Perry's feat marked the third time in California racing that an owner has been one-two-three in a stakes. The late Louis B. Mayer made a sweep of the 1945 California Breeders Champion Stakes at Santa Anita with Honeymoon, Moneybags, and Charivari, and Calumet Farm was one-two-three in the 1952 Vanity with Two Lea, Wistful, and Jennie Lee. 

Perry and trainer James W. Maloney might have picked up fourth money as well, but a couple of hours or so before post time they withdrew Romanticism. With eight starters and six betting interests in the Vanity, there was a minus of $23,683 in the show pool.

Gamely's victory was far from a surprise, but the manner in which she won shook up most of the 42,809 fans. When no one wanted the lead, jockey Wayne Harris quickly sent Gamely to the front and she made every pole a winning one.

"Harris had no choice," Maloney said. "The first quarter was so slow--:23 3/5, so he had to go on with Gamely."

Perry also complimented Harris on his ride. "I'll admit I was worried when I saw her go to the front so soon, but there was not much else the boy could do. Harris used his head, and that's what I like about him."

"Gamely was practically pulling me out of the saddle rounding the first turn and we were in front," the jockey said. "I did not hit her once with the whip, I just shook it at her, and she did the rest."

Gamely covered the first half-mile in :46 4/5, six furlongs in the 1:10 3/5, and the mile in 1:35 1/5. In the stretch she started to drift out, but Harris said that was because she did not have a horse in front of her to run at, as she had in recent races.

At Santa Anita last winter, Gamely showed a tendency to drift out in the stretch if sent to the lead too soon. Otherwise, she has never given Maloney any cause to worry. 

"She couldn't care less about most things. There's no need to paddock her the day before a race, or anything like that. She's a big strong filly, stands almost 16.2, I would say," the trainer commented.

Perry and Maloney have excellent chances to make off with hundred-granders the next two Saturdays. In Dewan they have the favorite for the Hollywood Derby, and the following week Gamely will take on Rising Market and other tough colts in the $162,100 Hollywood Gold Cup.

"We have Princessnesian nominated for the Gold Cup, too," Maloney said, "but we will look elsewhere for a race for her."

During the week, Racing Room equaled the 5 1/2-furlong track record of 1:02 2/5 in winning the 20,000-added Hollywood Express, and Jan Jessie beat most of the season's best 2-year-old fillies in the $20,000-added Cinderella Stakes.

Florida-bred Racing Room, a son of Restless Wind, is trained by Charlie Whittingham, who saddled Porterhouse for Llangollen Farm in 1957 when he won the inaugural running of the Express and set what was then the world record.

Kissin' George, burdened with top weight of 129 pounds, waged a losing battle for the early lead with Speedy King, then Racing Room closed strongly in the final furlong to win by a head. It was his second victory in two starts at the meeting.

Jan Jessie likes to race on the front end, with something alongside for competition. In the early part of the Cinderella she was head and head with Dumptys Lady; when that one gave way, she took on Sniffen Court and then out-finished Lynne's Orphan to win by a neck in 1:04 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.