ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Trainer Bob Baffert’s 4-year-old Sky Kingdom came from next-to-last at the top of the stretch to beat Blueskiesrainbows by a neck in the $60,000 Kern River Purse on Thursday at Santa Anita.
Coming of a layoff of nearly a year, Sky Kingdom was sixth in the field of seven for most of the mile-long race and got stuck on the far outside on the final turn but closed with a huge stretch run under jockey Martin Garcia for the victory.
Sky Kingdom won in 1:35.84 and paid $9.40, $5.40, and $4. Blueskiesnrainbows paid $6.20 and $3.60. Phantom Lover was just a head back in third and paid $4.70.
Gladding, the favorite and early leader, faded to last.
Sky Kingdom has won seven times in 10 career starts and earned $165,930.
