Beyond Brilliant Upstages Baffert Trio in Victory

Having 60% of the field wasn’t enough to assure Bob Baffert of another stakes victory Sunday at Santa Anita.

Beyond Brilliant, the 19-10 second choice and one of two 3-year-olds in the field not trained by Baffert, made a successful Southern California debut, winning the $79,650 San Pedro Stakes by a length over even-money favorite So Urgent.

Trained by Greg Gilchrist for owner Harry Aleo and ridden by Ron Warren Jr., Beyond Brilliant won for the fifth time in seven starts. He completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 4/5.

After breaking on top with Beyond Brilliant, Warren, who rides regularly at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, was content to take back off the pace set by So Urgent and longshot Pie N Burger.

Moved to the outside around the turn, Beyond Brilliant got the lead in midstretch and edged clear in the final yards. Only once has the son of High Brite been worse than second in his career and that came in a two-turn race at Delaware Park last fall.

So Urgent led a 2-3-4 finish for Baffert.

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Tijiyr, a 9-1 shot, outfinished Northcote Road, a 12-1 outsider, to win the $600,000 Explosive Bid Handicap at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Niall O’Callaghan, Tijiyr, a 5-year-old Irish-bred, is now two for two in the United States after winning once in 11 races in France.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, Tijiyr completed the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:50 3/5. King Cugat, the 8-5 favorite, was third.

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Veteran rider Dean Kutz became the 52nd recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey in a ceremony between races at Santa Anita.

Kutz was joined in the winner’s circle by his mother, sister, brother, Santa Anita officials, several former Woolf Award winners and members of the local jockey colony. He received the award from Brant Latta, Santa Anita’s general manager.

“All riders have to be proud to be one of your peers,” said trainer Kathy Walsh, for whom Kutz has ridden several winners. “Dean’s a class act who has done a lot for the game and he’s going to do a lot more for the game.”

Horse racing notes

Xtra Heat, the 1-5 favorite, made it 11 victories in 12 starts by winning the $100,000 Cicada, a Grade III race, at Aqueduct. The daughter of Dixieland Heat won by nearly two lengths under jockey Rick Wilson. . . . Startac, who may be a starter in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, worked five furlongs in 59 1/5 Sunday morning at Hollywood Park for trainer Simon Bray. . . . Santa Anita will offer a $1-million guaranteed pick six pool on Derby Day. Also that day, there will be a $1 pick three featuring the Santa Anita Derby, the Illinois Derby and the Lone Star Park Derby.