BackTrack: Claimer Dearest Trickski Grabs a Grade 1

Until Santa Anita Park lost the weekend of Jan. 5-6 to weather-related drainage problems, graded performers emerged at a healthy clip.

Former claimer Dearest Trickski successfully stepped into grade 1 company Dec. 29 in the La Brea Stakes. Daytona continued his winning ways Dec. 30 in the San Gabriel Handicap (G2T). Eastern invader In Summation  captured the Jan. 1 El Conejo Handicap (G3). And South African Alexandra Rose made her first visit to an American winner's circle Jan. 1 in the Monrovia Handicap (G3T).

When Tom Mankiewicz said no one would believe a script in which he claimed Dearest Trickski for $32,000 and four months later she won the grade 1 La Brea, trust him. After all, this is the man who whipped up a screenplay where James Bond's archenemy Ernst Blofeld created a laser satellite that could blow up the world in Diamonds Are Forever.

Yet that's exactly what Mankiewicz and trainer John Sadler did. They picked Dearest Trickski out of an Aug. 4 Del Mar $32,000 claiming race, won three races, and decided to take a shot in the La Brea.

"I wanted to claim her because she was already four for seven," Mankiewicz said. "She's a little horse that likes to win. I just thought that she would be really useful and maybe she could improve and become an allowance filly."

Dearest Trickski's competitive nature has thus far transcended class.

"She has a weird thing that when she rounds the turn into the stretch, she almost re-breaks," Mankiewicz said. "She sees the wire, and you get a whole new burst of energy from her."

Sadler said that he also liked Dearest Trickski's desire to win.

"And she's one of these horses that really loves the synthetics," Sadler said. "She's really improved on them."

Drs. K.K. and V. Devi Jayaraman bred the now 4-year-old daughter of Proudest Romeo—Trickski, by Peteski, in Florida, and she began racing on the traditional dirt surfaces of Oaklawn Park and Lone Star Park. Competing for tags as little as $10,000, she made her way through several barns until Sadler and Mankiewicz grabbed hold of her.

Hollywood Park stakes winner Sindy With an S, who had traveled cross-country to Laurel to capture the Safely Kept Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3), went off as the 5-2 La Brea favorite. When Dearest Trickski shot out of the gate and overtook Unspoken Word for the lead before the field even left the chute, however, everyone else had to scramble for second money.

Dearest Trickski completed the seven furlongs in 1:21.09 under Mike Smith, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Unspoken Word. Glorified finished third, while Sindy With an S raced steadily for fourth.

Sadler indicated that Dearest Trickski, as a Florida-bred, would next attempt the Jan. 26 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint, which is slated for Santa Anita.

Smith made it a graded stakes double for the weekend when he returned the following day to pilot Daytona to victory in the San Gabriel for older runners on the turf at 1 1/8 miles. He and the gelding were winning their third in a row together, following the Oak Tree Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita and the Hollywood Derby (G1T) last fall.

"This horse really matured after Del Mar," said trainer Dan Hendricks. "The horse is real healthy right now, doing good, and just came into his own."

The Irish National Stud bred the 4-year-old son of Indian Ridge—Kyka, by Blushing John. Tom Lenner, Jeff Davenport, Tom Murray, and Jess Ravich own Daytona.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

In Summation may make one more California start, in the Jan. 21 Palos Verdes Handicap (G2), before he rejoins trainer Christophe Clement's Eastern-based barn. The Waterford Stable runner won the Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) at Del Mar last summer and added the 5 1/2-furlong El Conejo Handicap Jan. 1, when he defeated a field that included odds-on favorite Idiot Proof.

Barbecue Eddie finished second, a length behind In Summation and 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Idiot Proof. The favorite developed a fever that night but rebounded after trainer Clifford Sise had his veterinarian treat the horse.

On the same card as the El Conejo, Rafael Bejarano guided Alexandra Rose to a three-quarter-length win in the Monrovia over Santa Anita's downhill turf course of about 6 1/2 furlongs. She was winning for Team Valor International and was represented in the winner's circle by Steve and Sue Woskow of Simi Valley, Calif.

"We've been in partnerships with Team Valor for about five or six years," said an elated Sue Woskow.