Brave Raj, 9-5 Favorite, Wins at Del Mar

Favored Brave Raj, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, moved up to bid for the lead going into the stretch and drew clear in the final yards Monday to win the $55,750 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.

Brave Raj finished 1 lengths in front of Breech, ridden by Terry Lipham. Chris McCarron rode Footy to third place, another 2 1/2 lengths back, in the seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Brave Raj, sent off the 9-5 favorite by the crowd of 15,109, was timed in 1:22 3/5 and paid $5.80, $3.80 and $3. Breech paid $6.80 and $4.60; Footy returned $3.60 to show.

Valenzuela rode two other winners--Percentastar in the first race and Tough Envoy in the fifth.