Law Abidin Citizen takes to downhill turf course in Friday feature

In his first dance on grass, trainer Mark Glatt’s Law Abidin Citizen relaxed well and responded with a game head victory over favored Rockin Rudy in Friday’s $56,000 allowance feature at Santa Anita.Ridden by Jamie Theriot, Law Abidin Citizen negotiated 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.72.

Breaking from post position three in a field of six 3-year-olds, Law Abidin Citizen, who came off a second place finish in the Grade II, seven furlong San Vicente Stakes here on Feb. 12, sat a close third behind dueling leaders Rockin Rudy and Elwood J down the hill, swung three-wide at the dirt crossing turning for home and out-gamed the favorite while hand ridden to the wire.

“I thought he’d take to the grass,” said Theriot, who has ridden the Twirling Candy gelding in his last three starts.“ The idea today was to keep him relaxed early and keep him within striking distance. He’s the type of horse that when he makes the lead, he’ll shut it down a little, so I kept him engaged.He’s a nice horse.”

Overlayed at 5-2, Law Abidin Citizen paid $7.00, $2.80 and $2.40.Owned by Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider and John Xitco, he improved his overall record to 7-2-2-2.With the winner’s check of $33,600, he increased his earnings to $134,200.

When asked if Law Abidin Citizen would remain on turf for the time being, Glatt responded, “Probably so. We’ll probably try to stretch him out now.It seemed like he was pretty relaxed. He got floated out pretty wide, but he finished up good.”

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Rockin Rudy, who was hammered down to even money off a 2-1 morning line, finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Elwood J and paid $2.40 and $2.10.

California-bred Elwood J, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, finished 4 ¾ lengths in front of Interrogator and paid $2.60 to show.