Citronnade has easy stakes race

Ten days into the Santa Anita winter-spring meet, Bobby Frankel already has four stakes victories.

Citronnade, a 9-2 shot, became the latest stakes winner for the Hall of Fame trainer when she went wire to wire in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap on Sunday.

In a race devoid of pace, the 4-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid quickly established the lead from the rail under jockey David Flores, then kicked away from her six rivals in the stretch to win by three lengths. She ran the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.80.

Owned by breeder Frank Stronach, Citronnade won for the fifth time in eight starts. Her victories have come at four different tracks, with two on dirt and the others on grass.

Her earlier wins were at Woodbine in Toronto, Belmont Park and Hollywood Park, where she won the Audrey Skirball-Kenis in her California debut Nov. 12.

Rahys’ Appeal, a 13-1 shot making her first local appearance, finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of 6-5 favorite Three Degrees, who lost her ninth in a row.

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Perfect in two starts as a 2-year-old, E Z Warrior picked up where he left off, toying with his five opponents to win the $80,000 San Miguel Stakes at Santa Anita.

Idle since capturing the Hollywood Juvenile Championship July 4 at Hollywood Park, the $1.2-million purchase quickly took the lead under jockey David Flores and didn’t have to be asked for his best in his 3-year-old debut.

Owned by Ahmed Zayat and trained by Bob Baffert, E Z Warrior, the 1-2 favorite, won by 1 3/4 lengths over 13-1 shot Hurry Up Austin. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:08.82.

“This is what you’re looking for when you buy a horse like this,” said Baffert, who also won the San Miguel a year ago with Too Much Bling. “He was coming off a layoff, but we were confident coming in here because of the way he had been working.

“He’s small, but Smarty Jones [winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness] was small and he was also a freak of nature. We’re hoping he can be the next Smarty Jones.”

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There will be a hefty pick six carry-over of $623,110 when racing resumes Wednesday at Santa Anita. For good measure, Aqueduct also has a large carry-over of $403,438.

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Owner Ernie Paragallo, trainer Alan Klaner and jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. completed a sweep of the weekend stakes races at Aqueduct when 7-5 favorite Golden Dreamer rolled to an easy win in the $67,965 Ruthless. Pink Viper had won the Count Fleet for the connections Saturday.

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Buffalo Man, the 7-2 third choice, won for the fourth time in six starts, beating favored Out Of Gwedda by one length in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com