OAK TREE : California Cup Fields Bountiful, Though a Native Will Be Absent

Nobody can accuse local horsemen of failing to support the California Cup, the $1-million, nine-race event for California-breds.

There are full or overflow fields for seven of the races in Cal Cup III, which will be run Saturday at Santa Anita. All told, 113 horses were entered Thursday morning.

Only the Distaff Starter Handicap and the Starter Handicap drew fewer than 12 horses. The two races for 2-year-olds attracted the largest fields. Although only 14 will be allowed to start, 18 entered the Juvenile and 15 signed up for the Juvenile Fillies.

However, one notable is missing. Bountiful Native, who is working on a four-race winning streak and would have been the probable favorite in the Matron, won’t be running Saturday.

“She’s had four tough races in a row, and we were going to give her some time off after the California Cup,” trainer Dan Hendricks said. “She came down with a very slight temperature, so we decided to give her some time off now. She’ll be back next year.”

Here’s a capsule look at the nine races:

DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP

Southern Truce is considered a grass horse, but the 4-year-old Truce Maker filly has won four of 10 starts on dirt. Variety Spice, who has been campaigning up north, hasn’t done much in her last two races, but she is more effective on the main track. Mydadskleven likes to run third. She has done it four times in seven races this year.

STARTER HANDICAP

His Legacy is the defending champion, and the hard-knocking 7-year-old (11 victories in 31 starts) will try to make it two consecutive victories at 1 1/2 miles, which once seemed beyond his reach. Annual Date has some class, and Coco’s Main Man will have no trouble with 12 furlongs.

SPRINT

This is, by far, the best race on the card. Gundaghia gave stablemate Thirty Slews fits at Del Mar, losing by half a length. And Thirty Slews won the Breeders’ Cup sprint last Saturday. Since Del Mar, Gundaghia has won two stakes at Fairplex Park. His trainer, Bob Baffert, is no stranger to Cal Cup success. He has won four races in the first two years, including three in 1991. J.F. Williams has won three of four and Black Jack Road, Fabulous Champ, Sondheimer and What A Spell are all quality sprinters.

DISTAFF

Bel’s Starlet will be the shortest price of the day and should repeat her victory of a year ago. The most surprising thing about the 6 1/2-furlong race on turf was that 13 fillies and mares were entered against her.

JUVENILE

Moscow Changes is the most accomplished runner in the field, with two victories and two seconds in four starts. The question is the distance, since this will be the first time he’s been asked to go two turns. However, only two of the other contestants--Top Of The Moon and Kalembo--have won at 1 1/16 miles, the Juvenile distance. Shirlee’s Mamoon was impressive breaking his maiden, and Boating Pleasure was the easiest of winners going six furlongs and was claimed by trainer Wally Dollase.

MATRON

This is a wide-open race in the absence of Bountiful Native. Blonde Fever ran poorly Oct. 9, but if she bounces back to her previous style--a runner-up spot behind Interactive in the Torrey Pines--she will be tough to beat. Lovely Habit and Bel Darling are the Golden Eagle Farm entry. Lovely Habit is sharp, having won two of her last three, and Bel Darling, although more accomplished on the grass, broke her maiden on this main track. Other possibilities include African; Don B’s Princess, who won the Juvenile Fillies last year; Wicked Wit and Liztoane.

MILE

Blaze O’Brien is the best horse, but he could be compromised by his post position, No. 12. The 5-year-old Interco gelding didn’t have any luck in the 1991 Mile, having nowhere to go in the stretch. Still, he finished third, beaten by only a length by Shirkee. Alta Blue improved with blinkers, and the horse he chased, Siberian Summer, returned to finish second to Blacksburg in the Volante. Rocket Gibralter has won two in a row sprinting and can handle a mile.

CLASSIC

Charmonnier won this race a year ago, but his supporters won’t get 28-1 this time. Nor do they have to deal with Best Pal. Charmonnier hasn’t won since then, but he was a solid third behind Reign Road and Sir Beaufort in his last start. Beware, however, because longshots have won the first two Classics. My Sonny Boy paid $19.80 in 1990. Flying Continental is the richest horse in the field with nearly $1.7 million and has been rejuvenated in Kentucky, winning four of his last six. Prospect For Four is a consistent 3-year-old who won two stakes at Fairplex. Mystery’s Edge has also won two in a row, but is questionable at 1 1/8 miles.

JUVENILE FILLIES

Handicappers would be wise to spread this race if they’re playing the statewide Pick Seven. Like Blaze O’Brien, Medici Bells is probably best in here, but she drew post 13 and there’s a doubt whether she can handle 1 1/16 miles. Incindress has looked good beating softer fields in two races in a row, and trainer Bruce Jackson is confident about her chances. Tapstress drew away from maidens, Silent Lord has won two of three and the filly who beat her, Set The Free, set the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Horse Racing Notes

Gum, who won the Cal Cup Mile in 1990, was destroyed Tuesday because of complications from an injury he suffered in the Pomona Handicap on Oct. 4. A 6-year-old gelding owned by the Hat Ranch, Gum broke a sesamoid while running second in the Pomona Handicap. Then he contracted a virus and intestinal problems. When he developed a problem in his right front hoof as well, the decision was made to put him down. The son of Maxistar finished his career with 11 victories in 39 starts. . . . The Pick Seven will be offered on Races 3-9 Saturday. . . . Post time will be noon, half an hour earlier than usual. . . . The Tanforan Handicap will be simulcast from Bay Meadows between the sixth and seventh races.