A small, but contentious field

There are only six horses entered in today's closing-day San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita, but five of the six could win the 1 3/4-mile turf marathon, making it a most interesting 70th running of the longest stakes race in California.

Mike Mitchell, embroiled in a tight race for top trainer at the meet with John Sadler, will be going for his third consecutive San Juan win when he saddles defending champ Big Booster and Church Service, both of whom have big shots to find the winner's circle and put Mitchell over the top for his second consecutive Santa Anita training title.

Mitchell, tied with Sadler at 39 wins apiece, will saddle four horses before the San Juan and Sadler has only one bullet today. Advantage, Mitchell. But if Sadler should win with Oil Man in the seventh, he could win the title outright if Mitchell blanks, which is unlikely. Mitchell has too many live horses to not win at least once, putting the pressure squarely on Sadler.

The other three runners in the San Juan who have a big shot are the Bobby Frankel-trained Midships, Spring House and Obrigado. Midships has already won the San Luis Rey on March 21, and Spring House took the San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 22. If you go back to the Grade I Hollywood Tuf Cup on Dec. 6 at Hollywood Park, Obrigado finished a strong second, beaten only a half-length, to Champs Elysees, runner-up to Einstein in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

The only horse that doesn't figure here is On Fire, who just doesn't appear to have the class to find the winner's circle against this bunch.

Here's the way I see this year's San Juan --
1. Midships -- will be tough to beat if no one goes with him
2. Big Booster -- will be closing but needs someone to soften up the top choice
3. Spring House -- Solis says he'll run better than in last
4. Church Service -- part of the closing brigade
5. Obrigado -- seems to have tailed off, but never discount Drysdale
6. On Fire -- minor award is his best chance for success

Good luck today!!