DEL MAR : Lite Light’s Win Caps Upsetting Day

Rain fell here Wednesday morning, and that should have been the first clue it wasn’t going to be a normal day.

Longshots dominated the proceedings, with seven of the nine winners paying in double figures.

One of the biggest surprises was provided by Lite Light in the $80,850 Sorrento Stakes. Sent off at 17-1 after a lackluster effort in the Junior Miss two weeks earlier, the 2-year-old Majestic Light filly made a powerful move around the far turn to take command and kept on going to win by 4 1/2 lengths in a stakes-record 1:22 for the seven furlongs.

Beyond Perfection, the 6-5 favorite, was second, almost three lengths ahead of Dragonetta, who had beaten Lite Light by nearly eight lengths two weeks ago.

“I thought we’d win last time, but she just didn’t fire,” said trainer Henry Moreno after Lite Light’s second win in five starts. Her other success came in a maiden race at Turf Paradise May 2.

“She worked awfully good between races (she went five furlongs in :58 2/5 Aug. 7) and I told the jock not to let her loaf today because she’s a lazy filly. She runs from the stick and (Russell Baze) got into her. I loved where she was down the backstretch.

“I thought seven-eighths would help. The further she goes, the better. The Debutante (Sept. 2) should be next.”

Although Lite Light’s previous race was disappointing, she had displayed some talent when she finished third at 104-1 in the Landaluce at Hollywood Park. “She got into a lot of trouble that day and should have been second,” Moreno explained.

Baze was the filly’s fifth different rider and he seemed to get along just fine with her.

“Henry told me to give her an aggressive ride,” he said after his third victory of the day. “He told me to get away sharp and stay after her. I stayed outside with her because I knew I could ride her all the way that way. That’s often better with young horses.

“She’d been a bit lackadaisical, I guess, and this way I could stay after her. She ought to like two turns. She felt strong finishing. If they run her back (in the Debutante), I wouldn’t mind being on her.”

Dominant against maidens in her debut last month at Hollywood Park, Beyond Perfection didn’t do herself any favors before she entered the starting gate, according to Gary Stevens.

“She got pretty rattled going to the gate and she was really pulling with me down the backside,” he said. “She kind of used herself going to the gate, and seven furlongs is a tough distance in what was the second race of her life.”

Alyfair was fourth in the Sorrento, then came Tempest Cloud, Consulate, Fly For Free and Sawsan.

The co-feature, the $61,500 Windy Sands Handicap, belonged to Julio Canani.

The trainer ran 1-2 with 4-5 favorite Kansas City easily defeating Silver Circus by 2 1/2 lengths while covering the 1 1/16 miles on dirt in a solid 1:41.

This was the fourth win in seven lifetime starts for the 3-year-old son of Habitony, a $32,000 claim by Clover Racing Stables. Kansas City broke his maiden by nine lengths the day he was taken from Richard Cross and has gone on to win three of four outings for his current connections.

Ridden by Corey Black, the California-bred tracked Exploding Prospect through some quick splits (22 2/5, 45 1/5 and 1:09 2/5 for six furlongs), then drew off in the stretch. The early trailer in the field of five, Silver Circus, the 4-1 fourth choice, closed strongly and was 4 1/2 lengths better than Stop The Stage. Exploding Prospect was fourth and Kunjar was eased and had to be vanned off the track. He bowed his left front tendon.

Clover, which won the Molson Million at Woodbine last year with Prized, is planning to try again this year with Kansas City. The Million, 1 1/4 miles on the dirt, is set for Sept. 9.

“This colt has really matured,” Canani said. “He’s really coming into his own. The seven months off really did him a lot of good. He matured physically and mentally.”

Seeking to win the $250,000 Ramona Handicap for the second consecutive year, Brown Bess arrived at Del Mar Tuesday night. “She’s a good shipper,” said Victor Trujillo, the 8-year-old mare’s groom and exercise rider. “She’ll gallop Thursday, then gallop again and go to the paddock Friday.”

A Grade I at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the Ramona is also expected to attract nine others: Reluctant Guest, Nikishka, Stylish Star, Daring Doone, Double Wedge, Jabalina Brown, Run To Jenny, Rosadora and Petalia.

The 1989 Eclipse Award winner, Brown Bess has only one victory this year: a nose decision over Royal Touch in Santa Anita’s Santa Barbara Handicap March 31.

Jack Kaenel will again ride the Petrone mare, who will carry topweight of 122 pounds, five more than Reluctant Guest.

Horse Racing Notes

Chris McCarron will breeze a horse this morning for the first time as he continues his comeback from the June 3 spill that left him with broken legs and a broken arm. . . . Gary Stevens will ride Sir Richard Lewis in the Travers Saturday at Saratoga. . . . Lite Light paid $36.20 to win and earned $47,100 for owner Jack Finley. . . . Robbie Davis, who had not ridden since July 30 because of a back injury, won the seventh aboard Sky Darter, who paid $55.80. . . . Baze’s other winners came on 24-1 shot Bold Costa in the fifth and 9-1 outsider Frosty Paws in the sixth.