Stakes Are Getting Higher for This Claim by Abrams

DEL MAR —  Since going out on his own to train thoroughbreds in 1993, Barry Abrams has made some very successful claims, including Slews Royal Son, The Tender Track and Blowin De Turn.

But all pale in comparison to the purchase Abrams made earlier this year, a claim that, at the time, probably left many people wondering why he made it.

On Jan. 31 at Santa Anita, he took Famous Digger, a 3-year-old filly who had failed to distinguish herself in her first five starts.

Nor did she impress in her sixth, the last race she ran for her former connections--the Cavalier Stable and trainer Richard Mandella. On the day Abrams claimed her for the Let It Ride Stable, she finished fifth as the 17-10 second choice.

Abrams, who trained harness horses for many years before moving over to thoroughbreds, had been watching Famous Digger throughout her brief career, was impressed with her looks and was convinced she had some potential.

“I knew if I claimed her for $40,000, she could win for [maiden] $32,000,” he said. “There wasn’t much downside, and I was pretty sure she was worth more. I always thought on turf she could become a good horse. When I got her back to the barn, I was happy with what I had.”

These days, he and the four partners who make up Let It Ride Stable--his brother David, Vic Johnson, Jack Nikkashian and Tom Roberts--are ecstatic.

In eight starts for the group, the daughter of Quest For Fame has five victories, four of them in stakes, and she probably will be favored Sunday in the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks, the last of four Grade I races to be run at this meeting. She has more than $260,000 in earnings.

Why the transformation from a filly who twice was beaten in maiden claimers?

“She was very nervous and would get real wet,” Abrams said. “We worked her every day with ear muffs, and when we would take her to the track, we would let her stand there for about 30 minutes and let her watch all the other horses gallop.

“She was frightened of other horses when she went to the track, and we had to get her over that. It took some time, but she’s a classy filly and she got over it.

“It used to be you couldn’t get near her, but now if you laid down in her stall, she would lay down with you. She’s been one of those dream claims.”

Four of her five wins have come on the grass, and she has shown she doesn’t need to carry her course with her. She won the Providencia at Santa Anita on April 6, then won the Honeymoon and Variety Queen handicaps at Hollywood Park before winning the San Clemente here three weeks ago.

Of the victories, the Variety Queen was the most eventful. In the paddock before the race, Famous Digger flipped over backward, apparently stirred by smoke from a nearby hamburger stand.

Then, after winning the race by 3 1/2 lengths under regular jockey Brice Blanc, she got loose from her handlers and took off around the main track. After about a two-mile jaunt, she was caught.

“I didn’t see it because I was out saddling another horse for the next race,” said Abrams, 43. “Someone told me my filly was loose, but I thought they were pulling my leg. She was fine.”

Her success has attracted some interested parties. An offer of $600,000 was recently turned down. A win in the Oaks would probably make her worth that much as a broodmare. Her sire was a multiple stakes winner and her unraced dam brought $125,000 as a yearling.

Sunday’s race will be more of a challenge than the San Clemente. Only two of the fillies she beat July 26 are back for the Oaks, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and there are some talented newcomers from the East and Europe, including Golden Arches, recently purchased for owner Sid Craig by trainer Ron McAnally.

Still, Abrams is confident. “My main concern is [Famous Digger],” he said. “If she’s herself, she’ll win the race. She hasn’t even run her best race yet.

“She’s better than she’s ever been. She worked in 59 4/5 the other day [Aug. 11] and . . . galloped out in 1:12 and that’s probably a second faster than they’re going to go in the race. It’s unbelievable how good she’s getting. I can’t wait to see her run.”

Horse Racing Notes

Allen Paulson, the owner-breeder who raced two-time horse of the year Cigar, is recovering from hip-replacement surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Paulson has won three stakes at this meeting, all with horses shipped from New York by trainer Bill Mott. . . . High Stakes Player is the 2-1 morning-line favorite against six rivals in today’s main event, the $100,000-added Pat O’Brien Handicap at seven furlongs. Also in the field are Gold Land, First Intent, Boundless Moment, Tres Paraiso, Elmhurst and Score Quick. Ready To Order, who ran Friday, was scratched. . . . With his two victories Thursday, jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. is within seven victories of tying Bill Shoemaker as the all-time leading rider at Del Mar. Shoemaker had 889 wins at Del Mar.