Fantastic Style scores easy win in Las Flores at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Fantastic Style cruised to a four-length victory in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes for older fillies and mares Sunday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Bob Baffert, Fantastic Style ran six furlongs in 1:08.79 and paid $3, $2.40 and $2.10 in the Grade 3 race. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly had been idle since winning the Great Lady M Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths on July 11 at Los Alamitos.
Ben's Duchess returned $4.20 and $2.60, while Cadet Roni was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show.
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Fantastic Style's career earnings to $332,000.
Mike Marlow, Baffert's assistant, says Fantastic Style ''just cruised. ... She was really impressive.''
In the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes, Iron Rob took the lead with a quarter mile to go and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths, giving veteran jockey Stewart Elliott his first stakes win at the track.
Iron Rob ran six furlongs in 1:09.05 and paid $21.80, $4.60 and $3 at 9-1 odds.
Denman's Call returned $2.20 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite, while Mt Veeder was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show.
Elliott is best known for riding Smarty Jones to victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
The victory, worth $46,800, increased Iron Rob's career earnings to $157,320, with three wins in 10 starts.