Dixie Meister wins by a nose

No match for the unbeaten Discreet Cat in the Cigar Mile in his final start of 2006, Dixie Meister found rivals more to his liking on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Taking advantage of a quick pace, the 5-year-old Texas-bred gelding rallied to win the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap by the slimmest of noses over 14-1 longshot Armenian Summer.

This was the second consecutive Grade II win in California for Dixie Meister, who is trained by Julio Canani for owner Gary Tanaka.

On June 17, Dixie Meister won the Californian at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by David Flores, the 3-1 third choice ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.18 for his fifth victory in 22 starts.

Preachinatthebar, who made a wide move on the turn to challenge for, then get the lead in the stretch, finished third. The disappointment in the race was Declan’s Moon, who finished last as the 5-2 favorite in the field of seven.

The 2-year-old champion of 2004 lost for the fourth time in a row since winning the Santa Catalina nearly two years ago.

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Baroness Thatcher, the 3-1 second choice making her first start since Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs, won the $108,200 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita.

In her first race for trainer Patrick Biancone, the 3-year-old Johannesburg filly, who is owned by Ahmed Zayat, won for the second time in five starts, running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.31 under jockey Garrett Gomez.

Runway Rosie finished second, a half-length behind, and 6-5 favorite Mistical Plan finished third.

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Jockeys Agapito Delgadillo and Ramon Guce appeared to have escaped serious injury after being involved in a spill in the fifth race at Santa Anita.

Delgadillo and Guce were taken to nearby Arcadia Methodist Hospital.

According to Rolando Hevia, Delgadillo’s agent, the rider had some soreness in his right shoulder, but was otherwise OK and was likely to be released later in the evening.

Hevia also said Guce, who was in the bed next to Delgadillo at the hospital, was complaining of pain in his lower back and was awaiting X-rays.

Delgadillo was thrown when his mount, Winrwinrchickndinr, broke down fatally at the head of the stretch and Guce went down when Sabalucious, the horse he was riding, was unable to avoid the fallen Winrwinrchickndinr.

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There is a pick six carry-over for today at Santa Anita of $137,859.

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Jockey Brice Blanc, who will begin riding at Santa Anita again this afternoon, won the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap aboard Night Chapter, who is owned and trained by Bobby Frankel, at Turf Paradise.

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Making his first start since Oct. 19, Chatain, a 7-1 longshot, edged 5-2 second choice Sir Greeley to win the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap in record time at Gulfstream Park.

In only his fourth career race, the 4-year-old Forest Wildcat colt ran the mile in 1:33.87, breaking the track record of 1:34.05 set March 11 by Showing Up. Chatain was second that day, his only defeat for Lazy F Ranch and trainer Angel Penna, Jr.

The other two stakes on the program went to jockey Edgar Prado.

He won the $100,000 Mr. Prospector with Kelly’s Landing and the $100,000 Ft. Lauderdale with Classic Campaign.

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Looking to become the first jockey over the age of 70 to win a race, Frank Amonte, Sr., 71, finished last on 21-1 longshot Eightyninecentsaday, a gelding trained by his son, in the ninth race at Aqueduct.

One race earlier, Pink Viper, who was an 8-1 longshot, repelled a challenge from 6-5 favorite Johannesburg Star and won the $70,865 Count Fleet at Aqueduct.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com