Rangi Controls Pace at Santa Anita

English-bred Rangi darted to the front and never looked back in taking Friday’s $60,000 feature, a second condition allowance at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.  Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, Rangi won by one length and got the distance in 1:12.86.

The fourth choice in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up, Rangi controlled the pace through fractions of 21.53, 43.36 and 1:06.39.

“He’s a free-running horse,” said Baltas.  “You can’t really pull back on him, you just have to let him run free because he’s got natural speed.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to stretch him out.  I’d like to try him at a mile during Del Mar.  He does relax once he makes the lead.”

Off at 7-2, Rangi paid $9.20, $5.00 and $4.20.  Owned by Panic Stable, LLC, he improved his record to 21-3-6-3.  With the winner’s share of $36,000, he increased his earnings to $123,552.

Royal F J rallied wide-out through the lane and was getting to the winner late, but had to settle for second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Giant Ego.  Off at 7-1, Royal F J was ridden by Martin Garcia and paid $6.40 and $3.80.

Giant Ego sat second down the hill and maintained his position until overtaken inside the sixteenth pole, finishing third, 2 ¾ lengths in front of Den’s Legacy.  Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Giant Ego was off at 14-1 and paid $8.80 to show.