Desert Code is a surprise winner

Moments before the start of the Grade III $106,600 Affirmed Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park, the bettors seemed confused, with four of the five horses entered having 5-2 odds. Then came the real shocker: longshot Desert Code got out of the gate first and never relinquished the lead.

In going wire to wire for the victory under jockey Richard Migliore, Desert Code proved he’s more than a sprinter in beating Albertus Maximus by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:44.21 for the 1 1/16 -mile race for 3-year-olds on the Cushion track.

Trained by David Hofmans and sent off at 6-1 odds, Desert Code had won three times in eight starts, with each victory at 6 1/2 furlongs. The fact speed had not been holding up on the Cushion track made Migliore’s ride even more impressive.

“We knew our horse was the main speed and we might be able to get away with some soft fractions,” Migliore said. “He’s such a smart horse that he would let me know where everybody was by how tensed he got and how relaxed he got.”

The lack of a challenger to Desert Code on the lead didn’t help the late closers, second-place finisher Albertus Maximus, and the favorite, Awesome Gambler, who finished in a dead heat for fourth with Time to Get Even. Cobalt Blue was third.

Desert Code returned $14.00 for the victory.

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Jockey Garrett Gomez, the national earnings leader, has agreed to ride Bob and John in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30.

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Scottsbluff, a 5-year-old gelded son of Siberian Summer, won the $71,750 Flame Thrower Stakes at Hollywood Park, covering the six furlongs on the turf in 1:08.47 under jockey Clinton Potts. The Jeff Mullins-trained Scottsbluff seems to thrive on the Inglewood turf surface, having set the 5 1/2 -furlong course record last year.

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Jockey Michael Baze, 20, is trying to become the youngest jockey champion at Hollywood Park’s spring/summer meet since Bill Shoemaker won in 1950 at 18. Baze has ridden 52 winners. In second place is 17-year-old Joe Talamo with 42.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com