ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -Mr. Chairman edged favored filly Romance Is Diane by a head Sunday in the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Michael Baze, Mr. Chairman ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:47.93 and paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.80 as the 3-1 third choice.
Romance Is Diane, the only filly to ever run in the Classic, returned $3.20 and $2.40. Add Heat was another length back in third and paid $2.60 to show.
Romance Is Diane was sixth early before moving up steadily to take the lead entering the stretch under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
``The filly was digging in, but I had a lot of confidence we were going to get by her,'' Baze said. ``The last sixteenth of a mile, my horse just took off and finished up great.''
Trained by Doug O'Neill, Mr. Chairman was part of a dispersal of horses owned by the late Merv Griffin. The winner was purchased in June by Great Friends Stable, which includes former Chargers linebacker Billy Ray Smith Jr. It was the 5-year-old gelding's first race on a synthetic track after six starts on the turf this year.
``Michael had his horse right in the spot where you wanted to be,'' said Mike Mitchell, trainer of Romance Is Diane who will be auctioned off as a broodmare next month. ``But I'm proud of my filly. It was a good horse race. We took a shot.''
The victory, worth $150,000, increased Mr. Chairman's career earnings to $338,578, with five wins in 12 starts.
The Classic was the centerpiece of 10 stakes exclusively for Cal-breds Sunday.
-Famous Ruby won the $150,000 Matron, overtaking pacesetter Barbara's Love in the closing strides to win the 1 1-16 race in 1:43.40. Bai and Bai, the 2-5 wagering favorite, ran last in the field of six.
-Saucey Evening rallied from 10th and last to win the $125,000 Juvenile Fillies by 2 3/4 lengths, running 1 1-16 miles in 1:43.14. She paid $4.60 to win.
-Swift Winds upset 4-5 favorite Bold Chieftain to win the Mile by a length, covering the distance in 1:33.84.
-Tribesman won the $150,000 Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths over Johnny Eves, running six furlongs in 1:07.85.
-Lightmyfirebaby won the $150,000 Distaff by a half-length, covering 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:12.58.
-Lucky Primo won the $125,000 Juvenile by 1 1/2 lengths, giving jockey Joel Rosario his third win on the card.
