DEL MAR : Manny’s Prospect Scores an Upset in the La Jolla

DEL MAR — Manny’s Prospect turned the favorites into also-rans and then survived an inquiry to win the $109,700 La Jolla Handicap on Sunday.

Ridden by Chris McCarron, Manny’s Prospect returned $35 for her victory in the Grade III turf race for 3-year-olds. Jockey Pat Valenzuela, who finished second aboard 15-1 shot Golden Slewpy, unsuccessfully protested that Manny’s Prospect had interfered with his mount in the stretch run.

Earlier, in the $104,425 Rancho Bernardo Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Knight Prospector scored a two-length victory over Interactive. Knight Prospector paid $4.40 for winning the Grade III race for older fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs.

McCarron had Manny’s Prospect positioned nicely throughout the 1 1/16-mile La Jolla, running third behind pacesetters Zignew and Roman Image. The field tightened considerably in the stretch, where the bumping supposedly occurred.

“I knew where the bumping was initiated,” said McCarron, “so I wasn’t worried. I was confident Patrick was just taking a shot.”

Manny’s Prospect went off at long odds even though only one horse in the race, the even-money favorite Future Storm, had more stakes experience. He was fourth, 8 1/2 lengths back, in his last start in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. However, trainer Mike Smith chose to return him to the turf, where he ran well in finishing second to Earl Of Barking in the Cinema Handicap.

“I thought he would be more aggressive on the grass,” McCarron said. “He doesn’t care for dirt.”

Knight Prospector trailed for the first few steps out of the gate in the Rancho Bernardo, but quickly took over and dominated the five-horse field. The only filly capable of forcing her on the pace, Western Approach, was scratched.

Del Mar’s track bias, which has seemed to favor front-runners one day and closers the next, was of concern to Knight Prospector’s trainer, Craig Lewis.

“Horrified,” Lewis said. “I was more fearful of the track bias than I was the rest of the field.”

In Knight Prospector’s last outing, the Fantastic Girl Stakes on July 30, she got caught on a day when front-runners were not lasting and ended up a beaten favorite as Magical Maiden came on in the stretch.

“I breezed several horses this morning,” Lewis said, “but I learned early that what happens in the morning is irrelevant. Between morning and afternoon, this track can change.”

Jockey Kent Desormeaux took Knight Prospector out in a leisurely 22-second first quarter, compared to 21 in the Fantastic Girl, and found she had plenty left for the stretch.

“Last time I took hold of her on the turn and tried to save her speed,” Desormeaux said. “but this time I didn’t nurse her. When we got to the turn, I started knuckling her--and she responded.”

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Bob Baffert’s undefeated Flagship Commander is scheduled to make his first start in Friday’s $75,000 Balboa Stakes, a Grade III race for 2-year-olds over 6 1/2 furlongs. . . . The $100,000 Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup Handicap, a seven-furlong race for older horses next Saturday, has neither the purse nor the stature of the $1-million Pacific Classic, but it has a field expected to include Slerp, Thirty Slews, Cardmania and Portoferraio. Western Approach, a scratch from Sunday’s Rancho Bernardo, might also be in the field.

Trainer Ron McAnally is awaiting word from owner Charles Cella on whether to pay the $30,000 supplemental fee to enter Fanatic Boy, upset winner of the San Diego Handicap, in the Pacific Classic. The seven horses expected for the race are Best Pal, Bertrando, Marquetry, Missionary Ridge, Pistols And Roses, Siberian Summer and Valley Crossing. Post positions will be drawn Wednesday. . . . Representatives of Arlington International were on Del Mar’s backstretch Sunday, trying to allay concern about the equine virus that has caused horses shipping from northern Illinois to be denied entry into California. Trainers remained cautious. . . . Bill Harmatz, 62 and retired since 1971, will ride Bear’s Pizazz for trainer Mike Curtis in today’s ninth race. Harmatz, who owns a bowling alley in Vista, said he is “doing it just for fun.”