Stevens Guides 12-1 Choice To Upset Win at Del Mar

Gary Stevens steered Auspiciante into an opening on the backstretch and rode the 12-1 long shot to an upset victory in Sunday’s $125,000 added Ramona handicap.

Auspiciante’s victory gave owner Jack Kent Cooke a double victory, his Washington Redskins having defeated the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the day.

“I’d never ridden her before but I got the feeling on the first turn she had a lot of quick acceleration,” Stevens said. ‘She’s like a car. Hit the accelerator and she goes.”

For Stevens, the leading jockey this year at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, it was his first stakes win at Del Mar this season.

Justicara, ridden by Eddie Delahoussay was second and Sauna, with Luis Ortega riding for Chris McCarron, who fractured his left shoulder blade in a spill here on Saturday, was third.

Auspiciante’s time in the 29th running of the Ramona was 1:48 2/5, 1/5 off the stakes record set by Street Dancer in 1978.

Aberuschka paid $27.50, $15.40 and $8.60