Stylish Stud Returns $33 for Wire-to-Wire Victory

Stylish Stud, showing again his fondness for Santa Anita, led all the way to score a $33 victory in the featured $63,650 Royal Owl Handicap Friday.

A 5-year-old gelded son of Petrone, Stylish Stud has won four of his five main track starts at Santa Anita after beating 31-1 shot Balla Cova by a half-length in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Trained by Bruce Headley and ridden by Alex Solis, the California-bred outran 5-2 second choice Burnt Hills early through some moderate fractions (23 and 46 2/5 for a half-mile). He led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go, then was extended to hold off Balla Cove. Elegant Bargain, the second longest shot in the field at 84-1, was third, another 2 1/2 lengths back and he was almost two ahead of Festin, the 11-10 favorite.

The victory was the sixth in 20 starts for Stylish Stud, and the $36,650 prize increased his earnings to $231,225.