Hovdey: Something for everyone at Santa Anita opener

Santa Anita’s opening day is a tease. Its outsized gathering of great athletes and inspired fans elicits fond memories of an era long past, when weekends were filled with similar sights and weekdays held up their end of the bargain.

Nevermore, to be sure. But still, it felt good. The announced crowd of more than 41,000 – many of whom simply spun the ’stiles for the giveaway goodies – was entertained by 10 races that offered something for every taste.

Love the hometown girls? Spiced Perfection and Hot Autumn, both certified Cal-breds bought for reasonable sums, went 1-2 in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes, leaving the unbeaten, odds-on Dream Tree a deflated last in the field of eight.

Up for a frolic on fresh, firm grass? River Boyne, a modest package of pure grit, celebrated the anniversary of his maiden win with his fifth stakes victory of 2018 in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile.

Prefer the older gents? Witness the Grade 2 San Antonio and the collective gasp as Gift Box, a once and future rising star, joined Battle of Midway and Dabster approaching the eighth pole in a knockdown three-way before grinding out a half-length win for Joel Rosario.

The jewel of opening day, as usual, was the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs, run this time in two distinct divisions, even though all 13 late-season 3-year-olds left the gate together.

While favored McKinzie and Mike Smith were lolling along with clear sailing and then circling the field to draw off by nearly five lengths, the other dozen found themselves scrambling in a thriller of their own. When the end came, places two through nine were separated by margins that read head, neck, head, head, half, head, and neck.

Identity Politics, with only a maiden win to his name, gave Irad Ortiz Jr. a long, tough run to be second to the disappearing McKinzie, while Still Having Fun, 45-1 despite his win in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at the Malibu distance, clung to the rail and held third for Kent Desormeaux.

Smith was relieved to find the McKinzie he has known since the fall of 2017 was back to the reliable form that deserted the Street Sense colt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“I just think he had to be trained so hard to win the Pennsylvania Derby off his layoff that it caught up with him in the Breeders’ Cup,” Smith said.

“Today he did stumble a little leaving there, but it was no big deal,” Smith went on. “I thought about trying to cut the corner with him to save some ground, but I was just so loaded that I figured, ‘Nah, let’s just stay out here and get the job done.’ ”

McKinzie broke from post 13, which would have been really impressive if it had not been for the 1969 running of the Malibu, won by the Limelight gelding First Mate under a typically chilly ride from Jerry Lambert. From post position 18.

“No kidding?” said Smith. “But you know, I rode in a race in Chicago where I started outside the gate on a horse named Guitarzan.”

Let the record show that there was a horse named Guitarzan, a foal of 1981, and a son of Jungle Savage, himself fast enough to defeat Ack Ack in the Palos Verdes Handicap on Jan. 2, 1971. Go on, Mr. Smith.

“The starters messed up somehow, and I ended up without a stall,” Smith said. “I said I’d run from outside the gate if they’ll let me. So I walked up to the gate, and when I got alongside they kicked it. My horse jumped away from the noise and still finished third.”

As the man said, when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

With two wins on the card, Smith was in a giddy mood as the riders filed into the room after riding the last race in a deep December twilight. It was a veritable parade of all-stars, featuring imported talent with names like Velazquez, Franco, Gaffalione, Geroux, Hernandez, and both flavors of Ortiz.

Robby Albarado, who had no Christmas joy aboard Seven Trumpets in the Malibu, was dressed and ready to go as local wunderkinds Flavien Prat and Drayden Van Dyke viewed the final replay alongside Smith. Between them the three had won four of the day’s five stakes.

“I always love riding here because the competition is so great and the guys are all class,” Albarado said. “I remember the first time I rode here in 2000 with Pincay, Delahoussaye, Stevens, McCarron. I got in a fight with Matt Garcia after he threw elbows at me all down the backside, and I was so embarrassed I had to apologize to those other riders I respected so much. They said don’t worry about it. Happens with that guy all the time.”

Just then, Hurricane Joe Talamo blew past. Ever on 11, Talamo had one of those days, losing a tough nod to Jose Ortiz in a race on the undercard, and then finishing third in the La Brea and San Antonio.

“Hey, Robby,” Talamo said, about halfway serious, “why don’t you take Van Dyke and Prat back home with you?”

Smith took swift umbrage, citing his favorite mantra.

“How do you expect to improve unless you ride against the best?” Smith chided. “Man, this is fun.”

The way opening day should be.