Racing at Del Mar : A. Sir Dancer Is Balboa Winner

A. Sir Dancer beat out a field of seven 2-year-olds and won the 19th running of the $75,000-added Grade III Balboa Stakes at Del Mar by almost two lengths.

Sent off at 8-1, A. Sir Dancer took the lead at the halfway point of Wednesday’s seven-furlong race and never relinquished it. Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, A. Sir Dancer covered distance in 1 minute 23 seconds.

Drag Race was second, finishing a half-length in front of Patches.

A. Sir Dancer returned $17.40, $8.20 and $4.40. Ridden by Frank Olivares, Drag Race paid itsbackers in the crowd of 13,895 $9.40 and $5. Patches, with Gary Stevens aboard, returned $3.40.

Bucky Raj was fourth, followed by Green Baby, even-money favorite Forty Niner Days and Newport Jazz.

A. Sir Dancer won $47,550 in the $81,300 race in recording his second victory in three starts. For Delahoussaye, it was his fifth stakes victory of the meeting.