Frankel Nearly Out of Time in Earnings Quest

• Print

Trainer Bobby Frankel is running out of time in his quest for D. Wayne Lukas' national purse earnings record.

Frankel, whose Decarchy, the even-money favorite, ran third while his Blue Steller was fourth in Sunday's $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita, earned $27,000 in purses, leaving him $102,418 short of Lukas' mark of $17,842,358 established in 1988.

Frankel will send out two starters at Santa Anita on Tuesday, the final day of the year. Both must win for Frankel to have a chance to break the record.

A victory by Sumitas in Tuesday's fifth race, a $70,000 mile turf allowance event, would be worth $42,000.

Frankel also will send out Rolly Polly, the probable favorite in the $100,000-added Monrovia Handicap (gr. IIIT) at about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course.

If all 12 horses scheduled to contest the Monrovia run in the race, the winner's share would be $68,760. Late scratches would reduce that number.

The most money Frankel's runners could earn Tuesday would be $110,760, which would send him past Lukas.

After the San Gabriel, Frankel said he didn't like his chance to break the earnings mark.

"I ain't got no chance," he said.

• Print