Frankel Nearly Out of Time in Earnings Quest

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.