Congaree in S. Carolina; will ship to California soon

ARCADIA, Calif. - Congaree, who finished third in the 2001 Kentucky Derby and has not raced since the Jim Dandy at Saratoga Aug. 4, has resumed training in South Carolina and will be sent to trainer Bob Baffert in California in the coming weeks, according to John Adger, the racing manager for Stonerside Stable.

Adger on Saturday said Congaree has been at the Stonerside training center in South Carolina since November under the direction of Tim Jones. Adger said no timetable has been set for Congaree, but he expected the 4-year-old to return to the races in the spring.

The winner of the Wood Memorial and Swaps Stakes in 2001, Congaree was one of the top 3-year-olds of the first half of the year. He was sidelined with a knee injury, Adger said.

"We're hopeful he'll have a big year," Adger said.

Notable Career retired

Notable Career, one of the top 2-year-olds of 2000, has been retired after a series of disappointing results, trainer Bill Spawr said.

The 4-year-old Notable Career was recently shipped from Santa Anita to Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona, Calif. Spawr was not aware of breeding plans and owners John and Betty Mabee were not available for comment on Saturday.

By Avenue of Flags, Notable Career was trained by Baffert as a 2-year-old and for part of her 3-year-old campaign.

At 2, Notable Career won the Oak Leaf Stakes and Landaluce Stakes and finished second in the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes and Del Mar Debutante. In her final start at 2, Notable Career finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs, emerging with an injury.

She was unplaced in four starts in 2001, the most recent of which was a last-place finish in the Corona Handicap at Hollywood Park on Dec. 16.

Strub winner Wooden Phone leads San Pasqual entries

Saturday's $200,000 San Pasqual Handicap is expected to draw 2001 stakes winners Euchre, Irisheyesareflying, and Wooden Phone in the meeting's first race for older horses on the road to the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.

Run over 1 1/16 miles, the Grade 2 San Pasqual will have a small field. Wooden Phone, who won the 2001 Strub Stakes, is a top contender, while Irisheyesareflying, who won the California Cup Classic in November, and Euchre, the winner of the Cornhusker Handicap last July, have good chances. Euchre finished second to Momentum in the Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park on Dec. 9.

Other probables include Casey Griffin, Last Parade, and Sienne.

* Sunday's $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes will have a small field led by the unbeaten Bella Bella Bella. Trained by Jenine Sahadi for Team Valor Racing Syndicate, Bella Bella Bella won the Golden Ballet Stakes at Hollywood Park last month.

The Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes will be her first start over 1 1/16 miles. The competition is expected to include No Turbulence and Tamarack Bay.