BY Enquirer news services
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Event of the Year, among the Kentucky Derby favorites until fracturing a knee eight days before the race, returns to action today in the Malibu Stakes. The unbeaten son of Seattle Slew won four career starts by a combined 20 lengths and earned $498,600 before fracturing his right front knee training at Churchill Downs last April 24.
Event of the Year has been working well for trainer Richard Mandella. "He's coming back from a pretty serious injury, and the only thing you wonder is if he will be quite the same," the trainer said. Indications are the horse may be as fast as ever.
"I've been putting him to a pretty good test in the last month, and he's not just part ready, he's good and ready," Mandella said. "He's a pretty exciting horse to be around."
Event of the Year won the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:40 1-5 at 1 1/16 miles, then took the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park by five lengths in 1:47 at 1 1/8 miles. The times were the fastest of the year at both tracks.
The Kentucky-bred colt is scheduled to face 10 foes in the $200,000 Malibu, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds and the opening leg of the three-race Strub Series.
Last year, Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm returned to action in the Malibu after an infection prompted his trainer to keep him on the sidelines for seven months.
As a solid favorite, Silver Charm finished second, a half-length behind 9-1 outsider Lord Grillo.
Event of the Year will be ridden by Corey Nakatani and carry 121 pounds in the opening-day feature of Santa Anita's 62nd annual winter-spring meeting.
Sea of Secrets could provide the strongest challenge. Coming off an 8 1/2 length win over Artax at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park, Sea of Secrets has won four of seven starts. The son of Storm Cat will carry 115 pounds and be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
Sea of Secrets will run as an entry with Illinois Derby winner Yarrow Brae, from the D. Wayne Lukas barn. Yarrow Brae will be ridden by Laffit Pincay and carry 121 pounds.
RBI or strikeouts? Members of the American Sportscasters Association could not agree on who deserved being American League Player of the Year, Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers or Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Gonzalez drove in 157 runs, the most in the AL since 1949, and Clemens led the league in strikeouts for the fifth time with 271, and had a 20-6 record.
So the sportscasters compromised: the two were selected as co-winners in results announced Friday.
No such problem in the National League, Mark McGwire was voted Player of the Year for his 70 homers, and Sammy Sosa was voted MVP for leading the Cubs into the playoffs with his 66 homers.
