Connagher Wins Del Mar Feature

Connagher, the 5-2 favorite under jockey Joel Rosario, outduelled Blue Jay Attack and leading rider Rafael Bejarano in a spirited stretch battle to win Del Mar's feature race Thursday, a five-furlong sprint over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Connagher and Blue Jay Attack, a 6-1 shot, hooked up in deep stretch with the former refusing to yield a narrow advantage, winning by a head in :55.80 for the sprint distance. Danzing Tribal was third, with ten-year-old Shadow of Illinois fourth in a field of eight.

Connagher, a four-year-old In Excess gelding owned by Juan Quinones, Jr. and Mary Ellen West and trained by Ted H. West, recorded his second triumph of the current Del Mar season and third in four career outings. He returned $7.40, $4.80 and $3.40.

Runner-up Blue Jay Attack paid $7.20 and $4.20, while Danzing Tribal returned $2.80 to show.

With a carryover of $127,414 from Wednesday, $857,927 was wagered Thursday in the Pick Six for a grand total of $985,341. There were 317 perfect tickets with six winners and each paid $1,908.

Thursday's attendance was 12,126.