ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Motown Men led all the way to win the $59,250 Blue Creek Purse for California-breds by 312 lengths at Santa Anita on Thursday, ending a seven-race skid.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Motown Men ran one mile on the turf in 1:33.61 and paid $9, $4.80 and $3.40. Ride Along returned $8 and $6.20, while Pulpit’s Express was another length back in third and paid $9.80 to show.
“The last time I rode him, he never could relax,” Bejarano said of Motown Men’s runner-up finish on Jan. 11. “Today, I just left him alone and he went to the lead easily. He ran fast in the beginning, but I still had a lot of horse at the end.”
The victory, worth $34,800, increased Motown Men’s career earnings to $125,180, with two wins in nine starts.