Del Mar: Anisette's turn of foot is decisive in San Clemente

Favored Anisette made short work of 13 rivals in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar, unleashing a powerful move entering the stretch that carried her to an 2 1/2-length victory in the one-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Leonard Powell and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the daughter of Atwaad kept her U.S. racing record unblemished in two starts after winning one of three races in England to begin her career.

Rispoli, riding the 2-1 favorite for the first time in the San Clemente, allowed her to settle towards the rear of the pack as the Bob Baffert-trained long shot Fast and Shiny as she carved out quick fractions of 22.33, 46.68 and 1:10.88, stalked by Ancient Peace and Olivia Twist.

The winner began to edge closer up the backstretch and accelerated nicely into an opening exiting the far turn that allowed her a clear path outside the tiring frontrunners.

She shot right by and opened a that was too much to overcome for Ocean Club and And Tell Me Nolies, who finished second and third, respectively. Final time of the race was 1:34.84.

The winner returned $6.20 on a $2 win ticket and keyed a $45.30 payoff on a $1 exacta.

Powell noted after the race that Anisette beat her elders in an allowance race on May 29 at Santa Anita, giving him confidence that she would handle her first start against stakes company.

As for his having a new rider to replace Flavien Prat, Powell said he had only simple instructions for Rispoli.

"I said, 'You know what she can do. You've seen the race,' and that's it," he said.

The victory improved the England-bred's record to 5:3-1-0 and pushed her earnings to $166,871 for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.