Declan’s Moon Has a Perfectly Fine Win

In a perfect world, trainer Ron Ellis wanted Declan’s Moon to remain unbeaten without a gut-wrenching effort in the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ellis’ wishes came true. The 2-year-old champion of 2004 is still perfect five starts into his career after a workmanlike two-length win over Going Wild and four others in his first race since he won the Hollywood Futurity Dec. 18 at Hollywood Park.

The 3-year-old Malibu Moon gelding, who is owned by Mace and Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable, tracked the pace set by Spanish Chestnut, the 7-2 third choice, for most of the trip, collared that one early in the stretch and went on to win in 1:42.41 for the 1 1/16 miles.

The Maryland-bred, who was purchased for $125,000 as a yearling, remains unblemished after the first of two local starts before he heads to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on May 7. Next is the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

“I don’t think he’s all that tired,” Ellis said. “I don’t think this race took too much out of him. He was pricking his ears down there at the end, and this was just what I wanted. Right now, I’m as happy as I can be.”

So was jockey Victor Espinoza, a winner of the Kentucky Derby with longshot War Emblem three years ago. Espinoza is riding the consensus favorite for this year’s renewal of the world’s most famous race, and the jockey adapted quickly when Going Wild, the 7-2 second choice who was expected to either set the pace or pressure Spanish Chestnut, didn’t leave the gate alertly.

“I was ready for everything that came up in the race,” Espinoza said. “He’s gained some weight and he’s getting stronger.”

Spanish Chestnut was third.

Snack, who was making his first start for trainer Doug O’Neill after being purchased privately, broke down midway through the race and had to be euthanized.

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Making his first start since moving to the Nick Zito barn, favored High Fly rebounded from his first defeat with a three-quarters-of-a-length victory over 5-2 second choice Bandini in the $300,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Bill White until he lost for the first time -- in his fourth race -- in the Holy Bull on Feb. 5, the 3-year-old Atticus colt prevailed in 1:49.70 for the 1 1/8 miles under Jerry Bailey, who replaced Eddie Castro.

Lost In The Fog, who remained unbeaten with a 4 3/4 -length victory in the $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream, almost certainly will try two turns for the first time in his next start.

Greg Gilchrist, who trains the 3-year-old son of Lost Soldier for owner Harry Aleo, indicated Lost In The Fog could return in one of three races -- the Florida Derby on April 2, or the Santa Anita Derby or Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial a week later.

In three other stakes on the Gulfstream card, Jill Robin L and Bailey won the $150,000 Bonnie Miss, Letgomyecho won the $150,000 Forward Gal and Eddington easily took the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap.

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Leroidesanimaux, the 3-2 favorite, led throughout to win the $300,000 Jimmy Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

It was the sixth win in a row for the 5-year-old Brazilian-bred and his seventh in 10 starts for T N T Stud. Trained by Bobby Frankel, who won the Grade I for the third time in the last 10 years, Leroidesanimaux ran the distance in 1:33.89 under Jon Court.

Buckland Manor was second, one length behind the winner, and Sweet Return, the defending champion, finished third. Singletary, the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile with a perfect trip in his last start more than four months ago, finished seventh in the field of nine.

High Standards, a 7-1 shot, rallied to win the $100,000 Baldwin, a race originally scheduled for the turf but moved to the dirt.

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Afleet Alex, making his first start since he finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 30, did the expected and won the $50,000 Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The 1-5 favorite won for the fifth time in seven starts, beating Razor by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:09 2/5 for the six furlongs.