DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Judy the Beauty won the $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths at Del Mar on Sunday.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Judy the Beauty ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.63 and paid $4.60 and $2.60. She carried high weight of 125 pounds.
Madame Cactus returned $3.60, while 4-5 favorite and defending champion Reneesgotzip was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third. There was no show wagering because of the four-horse field.
Amaranth finished fourth.
It was Smith’s fifth stakes win of the meet, the most by any rider.
“I’ve been wanting to ride this mare for a long time,” Smith said. “I finally got to and it sure looks like I picked the right day. She’s something. She can run with any of them. Boys, too. Look out.”
The victory, worth $90,000, increased Judy the Beauty’s career earnings to $1,112,122, with eight wins.
In the $150,000 Solana Beach Handicap for older California-bred fillies and mares, 9-1 shot Heat Du Jour won by three lengths.
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Heat Du Jour ran a mile on the turf in 1:34.73 and paid $21.40, $8 and $5.20 at 9-1 odds.
Qiaona returned $7.60 and $4, while 8-5 favorite Kathleen Rose was another nose back in third and paid $2.80 to show.
The victory was worth $85,500 for Heat Du Jour, who is trained and co-owned by Jerry Hollendorfer.
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