Longshot Mahalo Princess Wins at Del Mar

Longshot Mahalo Princess, sent postward at 14-1 under jockey Kayla Stra, held off the late charge of 8-5 favored Upbeat Mood to win the $77,000 feature race at five furlongs over Del Mar’s infield grass course Thursday.

Mahalo Princess, a five-year-old Tribal Rule mare, was claimed for $12,500 at Santa Anita May 22 by trainer Richard Baltas and came into Thursday’s race off a front-running triumph June 19.

Upbeat Mood was ridden by Tyler Baze who was seeking to record the 2000th victory of his career, only to run out of room and lose by a head. Lemon de Oro was third, another half-length back in the field of seven turf sprinters.

Mahalo Princess ran the distance in :56.85 and returned $30.60, $10.60 and $5.

Upbeat Mood paid $3 and $2.60, while Lemon de Oro returned $2.80 to show.

The race was marred by the injury to 35-1 longshot Serious who was pulled up on the far turn by jockey Francisco Duran. Efforts were being made to save the four-year-old filly who sustained injuries to her left foreleg.

With no perfect tickets in Thursday’s Pick Six, Friday’s program will  have a double carryover of $239,002. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.

Thursday’s attendance was 8,502.