Wasted Tears Just Lasts in Mabee

In a display of unusual tenacity, Wasted Tears, the even-money favorite, staved off the strong stretch challenge of longshot Lilly Fa Pootz to win Sunday's  featured $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes by a nose before 18,046 fans.

With Rajiv Maragh in from the East Coast for his first mount ever at Del Mar, Wasted Tears extended her winning streak to seven in a photo finish with a determined rival, Lilly Fa Pootz, who went postward at 12-1 under jockey Joel Rosario.

A close-up third, only another half-length back, was Gotta Have Her, with Princess Haya fourth in the field of seven older fillies and mares. Highly-regarded Gozzip Girl, third choice at 7-2, was a disappointing sixth. Withdrawn from the original field was Oui Say Oui.

Wasted Tears, bred, owned and trained by Bart Evans of Midland, Texas,  led from the start and  ran the mile and one-eighth on the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:47.35, returning $4.20, $3.40 and $2.40 with her eleventh triumph in 16 starts over-all.  The five-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Najran earned $150,000 to increase her bankroll to $708,598.

Lilly Fa Pootz paid $8.20 and $3.60, while Gotta Have Her returned $2.40 to show.

Well-traveled in her career, Wasted Tears has won races at Lone Star Park in Texas, Gulfstream Park in Florida and Keeneland in Kentucky. She arrived at Del Mar from Texas a week ago and was stabled with the horses of trainer Richard Mandella.

The Mabee Stakes is a "Win and You're In," race, qualifying the winner for a berth in the filly and mare division of the  Breeders' Cup in November at Churchill Downs.