DEL MAR : Wine ‘N Music Wins Breeders’ Stakes for 2-Year-Old Fillies by a Nose at 6-1

Favorites have won more than their share of California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Assn. stakes, with a 57% success rate in Southern California.

But Wine ‘N Music, with Laffit Pincay Jr. aboard, bucked 6-1 odds Monday in winning the six-furlong, $75,000 CTBA Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Wine ‘N Music caught Shanestar by a nose at the wire and was timed in 1:11. Don B’s Princess, the 5-2 favorite ridden by Kent Desormeaux, finished third.

The victory aboard the Jerry Fanning-trained 2-year-old daughter of Desert Wine was Pincay’s third of the afternoon on the next-to-last day of the Del Mar season.

“That horse out front (Shanestar) looked way out there,” Pincay said. “But then right before we hit the wire I knew we had them. I kept her outside today to keep her away from flying dirt. We took her blinkers off and I didn’t want the clods hitting her in the eye. Taking the blinkers off probably won the race for her. . . . She relaxed beautifully.”

Chris McCarron, who rode Shanestar, said his mount “is still a little green. She made the lead in the stretch and started waiting on horses. She wasn’t quitting or pulling herself up. She was just waiting, and it may have cost her the race.”

The horse to beat in Wednesday’s Futurity is Scherando, but there are high hopes for several others.

Trainer Richard Mandella, who has slumped this year, hopes for a big finish with Enter The Player.

“We’re hoping he can save us from a sour meet,” said Mandella, whose mounts haven’t won a stakes here this year.

“He’s had four races and shown improvement in every one. In his three sprints he got himself beat by being green and rushed up like a horse that wants to go further.”

Wayne Lukas has similar aspirations for Big Sur. The son of Alydar will be going for his third victory in five starts and his second in added-money company.

Lukas gained his second stakes victory of the season Sunday when Twilight Agenda won the Del Mar Breeder’s Cup.

Lukas, who is in Keeneland, Ky., for the fall yearling sale, said he has not yet made a decision on which Breeder’s Cup race Twilight Agenda will enter.

“A lot depends on whether Farma Way is supplemented or not,” said Randy Bradshaw, Lukas’ assistant. “Our main objective is to win the $3-million race (Breeders’ Cup Classic). If Farma Way is supplemented, there is the possibility Twilight Agenda could go in the mile.”

Add more heat to the rivalry between Patrick Valenzuela and Kent Desormeaux for top rider at Del Mar after the two finished in the season’s first dead heat in the sixth race, at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Desormeaux, riding Dance Rehearsal, led throughout the stretch. But coming out of the final turn, Valenzuela coaxed Moveable Light through heavy traffic and appeared to have caught the leader at the wire.

The tie was declared in a photo finish, so going into the final day Valenzuela continues to lead by two victories. Desormeaux also lost the seventh race, aboard Let’s Go Flying, in another photo finish when Eddie Delahoussaye and Hoofer caught him at the wire.

Del Mar’s new satellite wagering facility will open Thursday to kick off its Inter-track Wagering season.

The $15-million, two-story facility can accommodate 4,000 patrons. Along with thoroughbred, harness and quarter horse racing shown 10 months a year, the state-of-the-art facility will also feature a video library allowing race fans to view past performances, and a theater area with three large screen televisions.

Corwyn Bay, the 1990 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup favorite who was retired to stud after a tendon injury, will return to competition in the six-furlong Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup on Sept. 28.

The winner of six of 14 lifetime starts, the Irish-bred Corwyn Bay has earned $897,078.

Owner Jean-Laurent Andreani of Lonimar Stable, Inc., was suspended Monday for violating financial responsibility rules.