Return Of The King wins at Santa Anita

Return Of The King, owned by the late James Ortega, who was one of nine people slain on Christmas Eve in Covina, scored a dramatic come-from-behind victory Thursday in the second race at Santa Anita.

“I feel like I just won a $5-million race,” jockey Martin Pedroza said.

“I’ve known the family for a long time. I wanted so much to win this race. It gave me chills.”

Return Of The King was the last horse in the stable of Ortega, 52, and was left to his son, James Edward, in a family trust.

The 7-year-old gelding is now expected to be sold.

Ortega was one of nine people killed on Christmas Eve when Bruce Prado, the former husband of his sister, Sylvia, entered the family home of James’ and Sylvia’s parents, shot many people and set the home on fire.

-- Eric Sondheimer