Light Of Morn Scores Upset in Pat O’Brien

DEL MAR — Less than two weeks after they won Del Mar’s Escondido Handicap with Navarone, the owner-trainer team of Bob Hibbert and Rodney Rash struck again with an unexpected winner. This time Eddie Delahoussaye rode the Hibbert-bred Light Of Morn to victory Sunday in the $111,025 Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup Handicap before 21,360.

Rash, a former assistant to Charlie Whittingham who started his own stable last year, has won with all of the horses he has saddled for Hibbert at the meeting. Before Sunday, Navarone had won twice and Mojave Gold and Ginny Girl had won once apiece.

Light Of Morn won by three-quarters of a length over 13-10 favorite Three Peat and paid $19.20. Slerp was third and Bruho, who won the stake last year, finished seventh.

Light Of Morn’s time for the seven furlongs was a quick 1:20 3/5.