Shirreffs may have upsetter

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hall of Fame trainers Neil Drysdale and Bobby Frankel have entered five of the seven older horses in a $60,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Wednesday, but one of the "other" horses, Stanley Park, looks capable of pulling an upset.

John Shirreffs, who trains Stanley Park, thinks the 5-year-old will run well in his second start following a 15-month layoff. On Feb. 3, Stanley Park finished eighth in an optional claimer over a mile.

Last of nine early, Stanley Park made up 10 lengths to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Sweet Stepper. The form of that race was flattered when Sweet Stepper returned to win last week.

"I think he needed the race," Shirreffs said. "I think you'll see a big improvement in the second race."

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, has won 3 of 9 starts and $123,716. He won the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Derby in November 2003 and was a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby later that month, losing by 1 3/4 lengths to Sweet Return. He was out of action following that race until last month.

Stanley Park drew the rail in Wednesday's race, to be run over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Drysdale starts Grafton and Terroplane, while Frankel starts Bis Repetitas, Exterior, and Golden Rahy. Trainer Sandy Shulman starts Anglo Saxon, who was fourth in an optional claimer on dirt at Bay Meadows on Feb. 20.

Of the Drysdale pair, Terroplane has kept better company recently.

Owned by David Bienstock, Neil Papiano, and Chuck Winner, is winless in five starts since an allowance victory at Hollywood Park last summer. During the losing streak, he finished second in a division of the Oceanside Stakes and was fourth, beaten less than a length, in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby. In his last start, Terroplane finished last of 13 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 28.

Exterior is an interesting prospect for Frankel and may go favored.

The colt will be making his U.S. debut after winning 3 of 5 starts in England. He won a maiden race on dirt by 12 lengths in his second career start last August. In his last three starts, all on turf, Exterior won a handicap by six lengths on Aug. 27, finished fourth in a handicap Sept. 11 and rebounded to win a handicap by six lengths on Oct. 20. Those races were at 1 1/8 miles or farther.