Morey again puts claimer into stakes with a shot

ALBANY, Calif. - This is one time that trainer Bill Morey wouldn't mind if lightning struck twice.

Two years ago, he claimed a California-bred for $32,000 from his debut and turned Trapper into the winner of a $100,000 stakes.

He is hoping to do the same with Don Jaun Con, claimed from an impressive victory in his debut and one of the ones to beat Saturday in Golden Gate Fields' final stakes of the spring meeting, the $75,000 Malcolm Anderson at five furlongs for 2-year-olds.

"Any claim is a gamble, but first-time maidens for $32,000 may be the biggest gamble of all," Morey said. "You may get a real runner, or you may get one who's really a $12,500 claimer."

"I think we got lucky. I have claimed a lot of maidens in this range the past couple years, and a couple panned out pretty good."

Don Jaun Con may pan out pretty well, too. He won his debut by 6 1/2 lengths, looking so impressive that Morey said, "I was praying there wasn't going to be a shake."

The California-bred gelding attracted Morey originally because of his breeding.

"The mare had thrown several stakes winners, and he had a couple works that showed he could run, including a 48 and change from the gate," said Morey. "His looks confirmed the deal so we took a shot. We hoped we'd get a solid Cal-bred stakes horse."

has worked three times since being claimed with a pair of half-mile moves and a bullet five-furlong work.

"I hope he's improved naturally, but he's worked well," Morey said, noting that jockey Chad's Schvaneveldt "worked him each time and likes him."

The Anderson, the first northern California 2-year-old stakes of the year, appears to be a tough one.

Trainer Jeff Bonde has a strong entry with I Dream of Genius and Tiza Royal Cat.

won northern California's first 2-year-old race of the season, then ran into problems on the turn in the Willard Proctor Memorial at Hollywood Park.

In addition to those three, Cousins Lew, a $120,000 March Ocala purchase by trainer Brian Koriner, will make his debut with four bullets sprinkled among his nine workouts.