Upsets Reign in Starter Showdown Series

Sacred Ovation remained perfect at Los Alamitos with a record-setting victory in the $45,000 Seal Beach Stakes Friday, closing day of the Fall meet.

In the most lucrative of five races in the inaugural Starter Showdown Series, the 5-year-old improved to 3-for-3 over the track, easily defeating favored Basmati and three others under jockey Edwin Maldonado.

In the process, Sacred Ovation, the 3-2 second choice, bettered the track record for six furlongs, completing the distance in 1:07.92. The previous mark of 1:08.18 was set by Bernster last Dec. 11.

Trained by Ricky Agarie for KM Racing Enterprise, Inc., the gelded son of Congrats and the Unbridled’s Song mare Unbridled’s Jane sat comfortably outside off pacesetter I Buy Gold, disposed of that one without much effort, then had plenty in reserve when challenged by Basmati, who was seeking his third win in a row.

The 6 ½-length victory was the sixth in 25 starts for Sacred Ovation and pushed his earnings to $193,640. He returned $5, $2.80 and $2.40.

Basmati, the even-money choice who had defeated Sacred Ovation by a nose five weeks earlier at Del Mar, paid $2.60 and $2.10. I Buy Gold, who was 6 ¼ lengths back of the runner-up, returned $3.20. Jonny’s Choice and W. Giles completed the order of finish.

Without a mount in the Seal Beach, jockey Felipe Valdez won two other Starter Showdown races, taking the $30,750 Buena Park with 8-1 shot Ultimate Luck and the $30,750 Westminster with 5-2 second choice Rock N Bunny.

Valdez, who was 1-for-19 through the first nine days of the season, employed different tactics for the victories.

Ultimate Luck, who had lost as the 2-5 favorite 12 days earlier, rallied from well off the pace to win going away for Success Racing Two and trainer Doug O’Neill.

Two races later, Rock N Bunny, who was debuting for Pauline Bonamigo and trainer A.C. Avila after being claimed for $16,000 Aug. 29, scored after a pace-pressing journey.

The other winners in the Series were Light Striker, an 8-1 shot who captured the $35,250 Long Beach by 10 ¼ lengths under jockey Mario Gutierrez, and Fancy Shoes, an 8-1 outsider who dominated in the $35,250 Rossmoor.

With favorites blanking in the Starter Showdown Series, the meet’s final  Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum wager with a low takeout rate of 14% - returned $5,082.65. There were 34 winning tickets.

Trained by Dan Hendricks for Super Horse, Inc., Fancy Shoes, a 5-year-old Brother Derek gelding, was ridden by Fernando Perez, the meet’s leading jockey.

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, the 29-year-old Perez, who shared the Summer Thoroughbred Festival title in July with Santiago Gonzalez, Gutierrez and Maldonado, finished with 15 victories, six more than runner-up Tiago Pereira. Martin Garcia and Maldonado, who tripled Friday, tied for third with eight wins.

“I tied for leading rider here before this and we came into the meet with a lot of confidence,’’ said Perez, runner-up – one winner behind Drayden Van Dyke - at the 2014 Fall meet. “I had a chance to ride many of the best horses in each race.

“I want to thank all the owners and trainers who made this possible and my agent (Tommy Ball) who works very hard.’’

Bob Baffert won the training title, finishing with six victories, one more than Steve Miyadi and O’Neill.

The Hall of Famer, whose wins including stakes successes by 2-year-olds Mt Veeder (Contender Sept. 13) and Toews On Ice (Barretts Juvenile Sept. 20), also led the 2014 Winter meet last December.