Right Number, Right Time for Happyanunoit

DEL MAR — Longshot Happyanunoit had something of an advantage heading into the $134,750 Palomar Handicap here Wednesday, at least in the eyes of numbers players.

The 4-year-old New Zealand bred was wearing saddle cloth No. 5, the same number as Paramour, Outstanding Hero, Fairhope and Sizzling Summer, the winners of the four races preceding the Palomar.

Those who favor five as their lucky number were rewarded again when Happyanunoit upset heavily favored Tuzla and four others in the Grade III race, paying $28.80 to do so.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner John Amerman, the 13-1 shot tracked the slow pace set by Isle De France, took the lead in the stretch and held off Tuzla, who had been unbeaten in three races on the Del Mar turf course, to win by a length in 1:41 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Happyanunoit won for the second time in five starts in this country and made Tuzla a loser in her first start for trainer Bob Baffert.

Bought early last week for a reported $1.3 million by Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable, Tuzla had won four in a row before her attempt to win the Palomar for the second consecutive year, but had no excuses on Wednesday, save for carrying 10 more pounds (123-113) than the winner.

“We put blinkers on and that was the key,” Frankel said of Happyanunoit. “I just told [Blanc] to place her and let her be comfortable all the way. I liked her today. I thought the blinkers would help, and she had been training great.”

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Making his first start at Saratoga, Yes It’s True had a four-race win streak ended Wednesday when he finished third as the 3-5 favorite in the $150,000 A Phenomenon Handicap.

Intidab, a 10-1 shot trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Shadwell Stable and ridden by Robbie Davis, rallied from slightly off the pace to beat 7-1 outsider Artax in 1:09 for the six furlongs. It was the fifth win in 27 starts for Intidab, a 6-year-old son of Phone Trick, and his second in six starts since he arrived from the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

Trained by Wayne Lukas for Satish Sanan’s Padua Stables, Yes It’s True was unable to take the lead from Artax and was no match for the first two through the lane, though he outfinished Good And Tough for third. The loss was his first after six consecutive wins in races at seven furlongs or less.

Horse Racing Notes

Green Jewel was pulled up on the first turn of the Palomar Handicap by jockey Garrett Gomez and was taken off the track by van. The 5-year-old mare suffered a broken bone in her left rear leg. . . . Jockey Chris Antley will begin a three-day suspension Monday after being disqualified from first to second on Dozey Doats earlier this week. . . . Another rider, Isaias Enriquez, will start a three-day suspension today for the disqualification of Dream Trip in Saturday’s second race. . . . Manistique, a dull second as the 1-5 choice in last Sunday’s Chula Vista Handicap, might try the turf for the first time in the $400,000 Ramona Handicap on Sept. 4. The loss in the Chula Vista for Manistique was her first in nine starts in California. . . . Budroyale, last in the San Diego Handicap last Saturday, will run in the Longacres Mile on Aug. 22 at Emerald Downs.