San Diego ‘Cap Won by Longest Shot

Taste Of Paradise, the longest shot in the field at 37-1, led throughout to win the $250,000 San Diego Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar.

Fourth in the Bay Meadows Sprint Breeders’ Cup Handicap in his only previous try in a graded stakes, the 4-year-old Conquistador Cielo colt set a fast pace, but was able to hold off 5-1 shot Gondolieri and 3-1 second-choice Reba’s Gold through the stretch.

Owned by Keith Abrahams and Paul Bloom and trained by John Sadler, Taste Of Paradise completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.62 under jockey Victor Espinoza.

It was the third win in nine races for Taste Of Paradise, but his first beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. Joey Franco, the 2-1 favorite who was seeking his fourth win in a row, finished eighth and last.

The field was reduced from 11 after the scratches of Daunting, Publication and Primerica