CLOSE RACE - NO CIGAR\Big 'Cap has more intriguing plots than long shelf of novels.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer

Poor Cigar. The Horse of the Year is missing quite a race today.

Even if it doesn't include him, the 59th running of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap should be unusually entertaining. In fact if not for its disappointment that Cigar isn't competing, the Arcadia track might be trumpeting this as the strongest Big 'Cap of the decade.

While nursing a minor foot injury in Florida, Cigar will have to turn on his cable TV (3:30 p.m. PST on Prime Sports in Los Angeles) to enjoy:

Serena's Song, the first filly or mare in six years to try the Big 'Cap, attempting to be the first horse of her gender to win the West's most historic thoroughbred race.

Urgent Request, a narrow winner over Best Pal in 1995, becoming only the second horse to defend the Big 'Cap title since John Henry became the only repeater in 1982.

3-1 favorite Helmsman and 5-1 third choice Alphabet Soup, respectively, making this only the second Big 'Cap to include both a horse who won the San Fernando and Strub stakes for 4-year-olds and the San Pasqual and San Antonio handicaps for older horses.

The attempt of 7-2 second choice Afternoon Deelites, California's top Kentucky Derby representative in 1995, to regain his stardom by proving he can win a 1-1/4-mile race.

Charlie Whittingham, the 82-year-old trainer of nine Big 'Cap winners, sending out his 65th Big 'Cap starter in 6-year-old Cezind, a son of 1987 and 1988 runner-up Ferdinand.

The prospect of a desperate fight for the early lead, with Urgent Request and Laffit Pincay firing from post 1, Luthier Fever and Brice Blanc from post 7, and Score Quick and Martin Pedroza from post 11.

"They're going to have some trouble if they think they're going to the front," said Mel Stute, Score Quick's trainer.

The biggest field, with a dozen horses, since Whittingham-trained Greinton defeated 12 others in 1986, the first year the purse was $1 million.

With plenty of contenders, this will be what horseplayers call a good betting race, something that couldn't have been said if Cigar had made it.

Even the low-weighted horse, Just Java (assigned 111 pounds, 10 less than Helmsman), is getting support from professional handicappers.

"I can't see any horses elsewhere in the country who would be higher than fifth choice if they were running," Santa Anita racing secretary Tom Knust said.

Four horses have won a race as long as 1-1/4 miles: Urgent Request, Helmsman, Dare and Go (the 1995 Strub winner) and The Key Rainbow (winless for nine months since a 1-1/2-mile turf race in France).

The local leader of this year's older horses, Alphabet Soup, hadn't won at 1-1/8 miles before his muddy-track San Antonio victory last month.

"Like everybody else, getting the distance is going to be the key," assistant trainer Grant Hofmans said.

Seventy minutes before the Big 'Cap, and in its shadow, will be the $200,000 San Rafael Stakes, the one-mile race that sent winners Mister Frisky, Dinard, A.P. Indy and Larry the Legend on to Santa Anita Derby victories in the past six years.

The gelding Cavonnier comes into the San Rafael with the most victories - five in 10 starts - but has scored his biggest wins so far against second-rate Northern Californians and fellow Cal-breds.

"I think he's underrated because he's a Cal-bred," trainer Bob Baffert said. "But it doesn't bother me. Once the races get up to a mile and an eighth, we start weeding some horses out, and I don't think he'll be one of them."

The son of Batonnier will face nine other 3-year-olds, including double stakes winner Honour and Glory, Santa Catalina runner-up (to Prince of Thieves) Smithfield, Hollywood Futurity winner Matty G and San Vicente winner Alfeetaffair.

The 10-race card, starting at 12:15 p.m., has four stakes.

Notes: The MGM Grand casino, which sponsors a $2 million bonus for any horse who sweeps the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic, posted odds on that occurring. Helmsman is the 18-1 favorite, Mr Purple and Just Java the 300-1 long shots. . . . Corey Black was fined $500 for whipping a horse after finishing second in Wednesday's fourth race. Stewards said the incident was less severe as the one that cost Corey Nakatani a $500 fine and a five-day suspension. But the Black fine represents an increase for typical whipping violations. . . . The stewards reheard a medication case against Clifford Sise and again ordered a $1,000 fine.