Horse Racing Roundup : Lichi Wins Feature; $209 Payoff in First

Lichi, a 10-1 outsider, used a strong finish to win the $65,150 Las Cienegas Handicap by a head Saturday before a crowd of 35,606 at Santa Anita.

Lichi, ridden by Gary Baze and carrying 115 pounds, covered 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s turf course in 1:14 2/5 and paid $22.20, $8.20 and $5.20.

Lichi, a 7-year-old Chilean-bred mare, earned $38,150, raising her career earnings to $181,480. The winning time was the fastest of the meeting on the turf course.

An Empress, ridden by Gary Stevens, finished second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Aromacor, and returned $4 and $3.60. Aromacor, a 26-1 longshot ridden by Frank Olivares, was 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Luisant at the wire and returned $6.60 to show.

In the first race, Tough Enjoleur returned the highest win, price and show mutuels of the meeting, paying $209.80, $84.60 and $27.40. He also combined with Silken Light, winner of the second race, for a 6-8 daily double worth a meet-high $1,861.40.

Tough Enjoleur, ridden by Rogelio Gomez, covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16 4/5 to defeat Royal Recourse by a half length. The five-year-old horse scored his first victory in four starts this year.

The win payoff was the highest at Santa Anita since April 6, 1984, when Mill St. Lass returned $230.80. The all-time track record is $673.40, set by Playmay on Feb. 4, 1938.

At Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., Blanco, a Florida-bred colt ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, drew away late in the race and won by 2 1/2 lengths in the $103,550 Gold Rush Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Blanco, who covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 2/5, went off the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.40, $3 and $2.80. Royal Radar was second, paying $6.20 and $5.20, and Baker’s Crossing paid $5.60 as the show horse.

At Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Demons Begone, never far back under jockey Pat Day, drew off to a four-length victory in the $147,700 Rebel Stakes. Demons Begone, the 1-5 favorite, paid $2.40, $2.20 and $2.20 after running 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 2/5. Fast Forward finished second and No Bargain was third.

At Aqueduct in New York, Ms. Eloise scored a 3/4-length victory in the $143,000 Bed o’ Roses Handicap for fillies and mares. Racing over a muddy track, Ms. Eloise, ridden by Robbie Davis, covered a mile in 1:36 3/5 to record her 13th victory in 25 starts. She paid $19.60, $8.20 and $4.80. Spring Beauty finished second, a head in front of favorite Tricky Squad.