SANTA ANITA : Bad Luck Changes for Siegels, Mayberrys

The afternoon ended a lot better than it began for owners Jan, Mace and Samantha Siegel and trainer Brian Mayberry.

About four hours after their Fluttery Danseur ran last in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, Peaceful Road, a 13-1 longshot, passed Jetinwith Kennedy in the final sixteenth to win the $110,200 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita.

Four lengths off the lead on a day when those close to the pace dominated, the 3-year-old Hold Your Peace filly saved ground under Martin Pedroza, angled outside in the stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:16 1/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

Suffering her first loss in three tries in her stakes debut, Jetinwith Kennedy beat Wicked Wit by a length for second. Gettin’ Air, the 9-5 favorite, was fifth.

Rae Down Under, the 3-1 second choice, stumbled badly at the start, unseating Chris McCarron. He returned to win the ninth race aboard heavily favored Liginsky, but not before being soundly booed by many in the on-track crowd of 20,618.

Although he won twice Saturday, McCarron was beaten on five horses who were 2-1 or less.

The Santa Paula was only the second career victory in seven starts for Peaceful Road and her first since she won the Corte Madera at Golden Gate Fields on June 2. She had been second three times, however, most recently in the La Habra Stakes behind Hopeful Amber.

“She’s getting better all the time,” said Jeanne Mayberry, the trainer’s wife. Brian Mayberry saddled Fluttery Danseur in Kentucky.

“She’s getting more competitive. I think it’s just from experience. She had a lot of time off (six months after the Corte Madera) and she ran really well last time and she didn’t run badly the time before. She’s just learning to run.”

Horse Racing Notes

Prospectors Delite remained unbeaten in five starts with a 2 1/2-length, wire-to-wire victory in the $286,250 Ashland Stakes. The 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Prospector completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 3/5. Pleasant Stage, the 2-1 favorite at Keeneland, was fourth, the same spot she finished in her 1992 debut in the Santa Anita Oaks last month. Magical Maiden was fifth under Gary Stevens and Queens Court Queen was eighth.