Del Mar : Vergara Rides Havildar to Victory

DEL MAR — Longshot Havildar, ridden by Octavio Vergara, rallied through the stretch Thursday to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the $30,000 feature race for older horses before a crowd of 14,819 at Del Mar.

Conquering Hero, ridden by Gary Stevens, finished second, a half-length in front of heavily favored Varick, ridden by Aaron Gryder, in a field of five horses.

Havildar raced one mile over the turf course in 1:36 1/5 and earned $16,500 for the victory.

Havildar, trained by Ron McAnally, paid $20, $7.60 and $3; Conquering Hero returned $4.60 and $2.60, and Varick, the 7-10 favorite, paid $2.20 to show.

Carrying 118 pounds, Havildar moved up entering the stretch and continued to gain through the final furlong, out-finishing Conquering Hero in the drive to the wire.