Gold Rush Dancer wins Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Gold Rush Dancer won the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes by a nose Saturday at Santa Anita on California Gold Rush Day for state bred or sired horses.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Gold Rush Dancer ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:49.37 and paid $5, $3 and $2.10 as the 3-2 favorite in a field of five 2-year-olds.

Ralis swung three-wide for home and returned $3.20 and $2.20, while 2-1 second choice Tough It Out was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.10.

''I had a good trip today, but he was still a bit aggressive,'' Prat said. ''Even though he's run a lot, he's still green, he's still learning. He came in a little bit in the stretch but I don't think he did anything wrong.''

The stewards posted the inquiry sign regarding the stretch run, but in a unanimous decision, decided that although a tiring Glory Bound was steadied at the sixteenth pole, the winner was not at fault. Glory Bound finished fourth.

The victory, worth $110,000, increased Gold Rush Dancer's career earnings to $294,423, with four wins in 11 starts.

In the $200,000 Melair Stakes for fillies, Enola Gay led all the way under Tyler Baze to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Trained by Phil D'Amato, Enola Gay ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64 and paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-9 favorite in a field of six.

Allsquare returned $7.60 and $5, while Cheekaboo was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.60 to show.

The victory, worth $110,000, increased Enola Gay's career earnings to $143,600. She is 2-0 in her brief career.

''Today was about getting her out there, getting her to relax and take some breaths,'' Baze said. ''She did. She learns so fast and she only continues to get better.''

In the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes, Avanti Bello held off late-charging Soi Phet by a nose to win.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Avanti Bello ran a mile in 1:35.30 for trainer Doug O'Neill and paid $28.80, $11 and $5.60 at 13-1 odds.

''I pretended to go to the lead to make the other horses go,'' Bejarano said. ''They went and I found my position and waited as long as I could until the right moment. I knew that Soi Phet was going to come running in the end, so I wanted to save a little bit.''

Soi Phet returned $5.60 and $4.40, while Boozer was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.20 to show.

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Avanti Bello's career earnings to $233,743, with four wins in 13 starts.

In the $125,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes for older fillies and mares, Bert's Melody shook off a late challenge from Singing Kitty and went on to a one-length victory as the 9-5 favorite.

Ridden by Brice Blanc and trained by Sean McCarthy, Bert's Melody ran a mile on turf in 1:35.36 and paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.60.

Singing Kitty returned $4 and $3.20, while Lily Kai was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.40 to show.

The victory, worth $75,000, increased Bert's Melody's career earnings to $231,893, with four wins in 12 starts. It was her first stakes win.

In the $100,000 LennyfromMalibu Stakes for older horses, Ambitious Bew won by 2 1/4 lengths under Prat after being idle since Oct. 12.

Ambitious Brew ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1:13.78 and paid $6.40, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 2-1 second choice.

Forest Chatter returned $2.20 and $2.10, while 25-1 shot Old Man Lake was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3.60 to show.

Trained by Marty Jones, Ambitious Bew won for the sixth time in 16 career starts, including three stakes wins. The winner's share of $60,000 increased the gelding's earnings to $398,380.