Balance ends losing streak
In a field that included no other graded stakes winners, Balance returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 11 months on Sunday at Santa Anita.
The 123-pound highweight and 6-5 favorite, Balance rolled to a 4 1/4 -length win over 5-1 third choice Bai and Bai in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes.
The victory was the fifth in 10 starts for the 4-year-old Thunder Gulch filly, and ended a three-race losing streak. She has won three of four at Santa Anita for owners John and Jerry Amerman and trainer David Hofmans. Balance won the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks, both Grade I stakes races, in succession in Arcadia last winter before two subpar performances in the Ashland at Keeneland and the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Balance, a $260,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale in 2004, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.41. The competition will certainly be tougher in her next appearance -- the $300,000 Santa Margarita on March 10.
“I expected her to run really hard today because she has been wanting to do something for about a week,” Hofmans said.
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Noble Court, the 4-5 favorite, won the 66th San Vicente Stakes in Arcadia in an effort that was not visually impressive.
Over a track listed as wet fast because of the earlier rain, the 3-year-old Doneraile Court colt won for the second time in four starts for Joy Ride Racing and trainer John Sadler. Under Corey Nakatani, he ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.12 while defeating 2-1 second choice Law Breaker by a neck.
Hurry Up Austin, who had finished in front of Noble Court in the San Miguel on Jan. 7, was scratched at the starting gate because of a shoe problem and a cut on one of his hind legs.
Noble Court, purchased for $190,000 in Florida in March, will try two turns for the first time in his next start, according to Sadler. The probable destination is the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 17.
“He looked like he struggled with the track a little bit today,” Sadler said.
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Lawyer Ron, the 2-5 favorite, was successful in his first start as a 4-year-old, winning a $57,500 optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
The victory was the ninth in 19 starts for the son of Langfuhr.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Lawyer Ron ran the mile in 1:35.17 in his first start since he finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November.
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