Paseana Wins the Santa Margarita, Her First Victory as a 7-Year-Old

Paseana won her first race as a 7-year-old and moved from seventh to fifth place on the female money list Sunday with a 2 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap, a stake that the Argentine-bred mare also won in 1992.

Carrying 123 pounds, four to nine pounds more than her opponents, Paseana and jockey Chris McCarron came from fourth to overtake Stalcreek in the stretch.

Winning for the 17th time in 29 starts, the two-time Eclipse Award winner earned $180,000, increasing her total to $2.8 million. Dance Smartly, Lady’s Secret, All Along and Bayakoa, all retired, are ahead of her in purses, with Dance Smartly No. 1 at $3.2 million.

Trainer Ron McAnally said that Paseana will run in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 2. She is the only horse to win the Apple Blossom twice.