PICK SIX CARRYOVER INTO WEDNESDAY OF $139,204

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Back from the Fair Grounds in Louisiana where she had won a minor stakes race sprinting on the grass at odds of 5-1, Annihilation ran down 2-1 Czechers in the final strides of Sunday’s inaugural running of the $64,050 Clocker’s Corner Handicap for fillies and mares at 6½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.

With Alex Solis in the saddle at odds of 6-1, Annihilation rallied from eighth in the field of 11 to prevail by a neck for her fifth victory in her last eight starts while running the distance in 1:12.50. Czechers, handled by Rafael Bejarano, finished one-half length ahead of third-place Bella Roja with Joe Talamo aboard.

Annihilation, a 4-year-old daughter of Northern Afleet trained by Dan Hendricks, returned from a seven-week respite to score in the race designed to serve as a prep for the Grade III Las Cienegas Handicap over the same course on April 11.

The winner paid $14.80, $6 and $5. The mutuels on Czechers were $4 and $3.40 while Bella Roja returned $10.40 to show.

Czechers pursued pace-setter Manhattan Beach through some brisk early fractions while Solis settled his filly near the rear. Czechers gained the lead at the sixteenth pole before succumbing to Annihilation’s furious rally on the extreme outside.

“Her best style is to sit and wait,” said Hendricks. “That’s what we wanted to do, and make one quick burst. We thought she could move up on the turf (5-for-8), and she’d be a good filly. She’s gone on beyond that expectation now with the last two wins and figuring out her style. She’s a little thing that wants to go when you ask her to. This sets up perfect for her to go to the Las Cienegas.”  

“I had a great trip,” Solis said. “Dan (Hendricks) wanted me to save ground and keep her together. I was waiting in the back, in the middle of the pack and saving ground. At the eighth of a mile, I got her into the clear and she just did her stuff.” 

The winning purse of $36,990 elevated the career earnings of Annihilation to $213,270 for the partnership of Jeff Davenport, Tom Lenner and William Strauss from an overall record of 5-3-2 in 13 starts.

PICK SIX CARRYOVER INTO WEDNESDAY OF $139,204, SANTA ANITA POOL COULD TOP $500,000

When 75-1 longshot Laserbeam Jackson, a 3-year-old colt bred in Utah, won Sunday’s seventh race, a carryover seemed likely and it was — as $139,204 will be carried over to Wednesday’s pool at Santa Anita.  It is expected that the total pool will exceed $500,000.

Ridden by apprentice Christian Santiago Reyes, Laserbeam Jackson, who paid $157.00 to win, is owned by his breeder, Dick Barton and is trained by Gary Stute.

Sunday’s Pick Six began with race four, which was won by Hockley, who paid $4.80 to win.  Ridden by Garrett Gomez and trained by Eoin Harty, the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by A.P. Indy is owned by Darley Stable.

The fifth race went to Brookie Girl under Tyler Baze.  A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Proud Citizen, she paid $6.60 to win.  Brookie Girl is owned by Holly or David Wilson and is trained by Vladimir Cerin.

Race six was won by Medaglia d’Amour, who was ridden by Joel Rosario and paid $9.00 to win.  A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Medaglia d’Oro, she’s trained by Ben Cecil and is owned by Mmes. Cecil or Reddam.

The eighth, the inaugural running of the $55,000 added Clocker’s Corner Handicap, was taken by Annihilation, who paid $14.80 to win under Alex Solis.  Trained by Dan Hendricks, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Northern Afleet is owned by Davenport, Lenner, Strauss and partners.

Sunday’s ninth went to California Colonel under Felipe Valdez.  The 3-year-old California-bred colt paid $9.40 to win and is trained by Jeff Mullins.  A son of Beau Genius, California Colonel is owned by Foos, Ho, Margolis and partners.

Santa Anita will be dark Monday and Tuesday, with first post time on Wednesday at 1 p.m.  The Pick Six will cover races four through nine.