Atta Boy Pete Wins Del Mar Turf Sprint Feature

Atta Boy Pete, an invader from Northern California piloted by Julien Leparoux, gamely resisted the closing challenge of 3-5 favored Strong Wind to win today’s featured Brookfield Residential Purse at five furlongs over the infield grass course.

Atta Boy Pete, a longshot at 13-1 in the field of eight turf sprinters, sped to the lead from the gate, set a fast pace and then had enough in reserve to defeat Strong Wind by a neck in :55.82 for the distance.

Strong Wind, piloted by Gary Stevens, was 1 ¼ lengths in front of third-place Summer Exclusive, with El Mirage King fourth.

Atta Boy Pete, owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Hagop Nakkashian and Team Green, returned $28.20, $7.20 and $4.60 after scoring his fifth win in 16 starts. Thursday’s race marked his first effort on grass. The gelded son of Perfect Mandate earned a prize of $62,400 from a net purse of $100,180.

Strong Wind paid $2.60 and $2.20, while Summer Exclusive returned $3.80 to show.

Leparoux was one of three riders to boot in double Thursday, the other being Garrett Gomez and Martin Pedroza.

With no perfect tickets in Thursday’s Pick Six, Friday’s program will feature a carryover of $81,441. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m. with the Pick Six on races two through seven.

Thursday’s attendance totaled 8,990.