Unbeaten Pacer Can Tie Filly Record for Consecutive Victories Saturday

An undefeated pacer owned by two Californians will try Saturday for her 24th consecutive victory, which would tie a record for 3-year-old fillies.

Sanabelle Island, bought for $100,000 by Lloyd Arnold and Ed Allred after she had won four races, will tie Handle With Care’s record if she wins the $346,750 Mistletoe Shalee Stakes at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. Handle With Care won 24 in a row in 1973-74. The overall record for a standardbred is 41 consecutive victories, set by Carty Nagle in 1937-38.

“A streak like this filly’s is amazing,” said Steve Warrington, who drives Sanabelle Island. “Some days a horse won’t be feeling well, and there’s always bad racing luck to overcome sometimes, but this filly won’t back off.”

Sanabelle Island is trained by Dan Warrington, the driver’s older brother. Steve Warrington drove the filly for the first time when she won her third race, and has been with her since.

Arnold, who lives in Palm Springs, is a former partner of Allred in the ownership of Los Alamitos Race Course. Allred, who also races quarter horses and thoroughbreds, is still co-owner of the track.

Sanabelle Island may not even go off as the favorite. Stienam’s Place, whose fastest mile is 1:51 2/5, a second faster than Sanabelle Island’s best, is 2-1 on the morning line. Sanabelle Island is 5-2.