ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Neko Bay rallied to win the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita as Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and overwhelming favorite Furthest Land faded to last after a promising start.
Ridden by Mike Smith, the 7-year-old Neko Bay was fifth in the field of seven older horses in the early going, moved up to second at the top of the stretch and beat long shot Spurrier by 1¾ lengths for his first stakes victory, covering 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.95.
Furthest Land, making his first start since an upset win Nov. 7 in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile over the same track, was a close second for much of the race, but weakened on the second turn and finished well back in seventh.
Neko Bay, who has the same trainer, jockey, and owners as Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year contender Zenyatta, finished sixth behind Furthest Land in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and had finished third in the Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park on Dec. 12.
“He ran just the way we hoped he would run,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “We like to have him come off the pace a little bit, and he seems to run a little better if he has something left in the tank.”
Neko Bay paid $12.40, $6.20 and $4. Spurrier paid $14 and $6.80. Nownownow was a nose back in third and paid $4.80 to show.
The winner earned $90,000 for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, taking the horse’s lifetime earnings to $323,020 for five wins in 13 races.
Also Saturday, favorite St Trinians won the $72,290 Paseana Handicap for fillies and mares, easily beating My Baby Baby by 3¾ lengths.