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ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Constellation overhauled Finley'sluckycharm inside the sixteenth pole on his way to a half-length victory in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Monday on opening day of Santa Anita's winter-spring meet.
The card featuring four graded stakes and attracted a crowd of 46,514.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Constellation ran seven furlongs in 1:21.83 and paid $27, $9.40 and $6 at 12-1 odds. Prat replaced David Flores, who had travel problems returning from Kentucky.
Finley'sluckycharm returned $3.80 and $3 as the 9-5 second choice, while Enola Gray paid $3.40 to show.
The victory, worth $180,000, increased Constellation's career earnings to $479,464, with five wins in eight starts. She was making her second start for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the Grade 1 race and earned her first career graded stakes victory.
In the $300,000 Malibu Stakes for 2-year-olds, Mind Your Biscuits won by a half-length under Joel Rosario.
Mind Your Biscuits ran seven furlongs in 1:20.81 and paid $9.40, $5 and $3.20 as the 7-2 second choice.
Sharp Azteca returned $5 and $3.40, while 8-5 favorite Ten Blessings was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show. Ten Blessings was one of three horses trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert in the Grade 1 race.
The victory, worth $180,000, increased Mind Your Biscuits' career earnings to $675,366, with four wins in 13 starts. Trained by Robert Falcone Jr., Mind Your Biscuits was coming off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last month.
In the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, Bettys Bambino returned from a 22-month layoff to win by 2 1/4 lengths under Rosario.
The 6-year-old gelding ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1:11.95 and paid $15.80, $7.80 and $5.20 for trainer Peter Eurton.
Stormy Liberal returned $8.20 and $5.40, while 4-1 favorite Richard's Boy paid $3.60 to show in the Grade 3 race.
In the $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds, 9-5 favorite Conquest Enforcer kicked clear turning for home under Prat and went on to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 race.
Conquest Enforcer ran a mile on turf in 1:33.64 for trainer Phil D'Amato. The colt paid $5.60, $3.80 and $3.
Ireland-bred Mittersill returned $7 and $5.40, while Italy-bred Moonlight Drive was another half-length back in third and paid $5.60 to show.
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