Two nice 3-year-olds changing hands

ARCADIA, Calif. - The changing complexion of the Santa Anita 3-year-old division will undergo further revision this weekend, pending the sale of Royal Moro and Bringem Jung, principal entrants in Sunday's Grade 3 San Miguel Stakes.

Royal Moro will be sold and transferred from trainer Juan Garcia to Craig Dollase, subject to a veterinary exam late Friday. The prospective buyer is Paul Reddam, for whom Dollase trains graded stakes winners Momentum and Swept Overboard. Royal Moro, a gelding by With Approval, has won 1 of 3, and is expected to start as one of the favorites in the San Miguel.

While Royal Moro will remain in the state, Bringem Jung will make his final start in California on Sunday. Bringem Jung, a gelding by Salt Lake, has won 1 of 4 for trainer Howard Zucker, and will ship to the Oaklawn stable of trainer Lynn Whiting following the San Miguel. Bringem Jung has passed a veterinary exam and will run Sunday for owners Dwight and Perry Sutherland, pending fund transfer.

The sale of Royal Moro is particularly significant. Though he has not raced beyond a sprint, his pedigree and Beyer Speed Figures indicate he has the potential to develop into one of the state's top 3-year-olds. He won his debut with a 96 Beyer, disappointed second time, then rebounded with a strong runner-up finish in a Dec. 26 allowance while earning a 103 Beyer.

If the deal is consummated, Royal Moro will start in Dollase's name in the San Miguel. While neither party would reveal the sale price, an agent familiar with the deal said it was in the range of $500,000.

Bringem Jung has been sold by owner Carl Grether, whose best horse - San Rafael Stake winner Crafty C.T. - is nearing a comeback for Zucker. Bringem Jung's pedigree suggests he could be limited in distance; he is not likely to provide another Kentucky Derby win for Whiting, who won the Derby 10 years ago with Lil E. Tee. Said Whiting: "He look like a horse that will fit pretty well in the Midwest."

Trainer held blameless in positive

Part of the purse of an allowance race for California-breds at Hollywood Park in June 2000 has been redistributed after the runner-up was found to have traces of morphine in a post-race urine test. But trainer Jesse Mendoza was not sanctioned.

Golden General was disqualified because of the morphine positive, which is not allowed to appear in post race tests. Golden General's owners - Black Racing Stable and Hillbrooks Farm - were ordered to forfeit a $10,200 purse.

Purses for the second through fifth places were redistributed among Mister Continental, Sunny Forecast, Kid Rock's and Weatherbug.

In a statement issued Thursday, stewards Ingrid Fermin, Pete Pedersen, and Tom Ward wrote that they did not sanction Mendoza because the positive test "may be the result of environmental contamination."

They cited testimony from practicing veterinarians Rick Arthur and Sam Bradley, Louisiana Racing Commission state chemist Dr. Stephen Barker, and California state veterinarian B. William Bell that the level of morphine found in Golden General's post-race test - 28 nanograms - "was unlikely to have a pharmacological effect on the horse."

In addition, they cited the absence of a blood sample from Golden General as part of their decision.

Siphonic preps for Santa Catalina

Siphonic, California's top 3-year-old on the basis of his win in the Hollywood Futurity last month, is scheduled to work Sunday in preparation for the $150,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 19.

Trainer David Hofmans said Siphonic will ship to Santa Anita early next week to gallop over the main track in advance of the race.

Siphonic is not expected to face a large field in the Grade 2 Santa Catalina, which is run over

1 1/16 miles. The probables include Cottonwood Cowboy, Labamta Babe, and National Park. Labamta Babe was fourth in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 15.

Holdthehelm, an impressive winner of an allowance race on Dec. 29, will miss the Santa Catalina Stakes and the restricted Sham Stakes on Feb. 8 after suffering a cut on a leg after a recent gallop, trainer Paul Assinesi said.

- additional reporting by Steve Andersen