03/19/2011 7:34PM

Santa Anita: Another Asmussen star?

By Steve Andersen
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There is much to like about the way that Maclean's Music won his career debut in Saturday's eighth race.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Maclean's Music, by Distorted Humor, disputed the early lead with Cherryzapper through early fractions of 21.24 and 43.48 seconds, took  command on the turn and pulled away with little urging to win the six-furlong race by 7 1-4 lengths over Flightofalifetime in a quick 1:07.44.

Owned by breeder Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable and trained by Steve Asmussen, Maclean's Music ($4.80) is out of Forest Music, who won five stakes, including the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga in 2005, her first start for Jackson. Maclean's Music is Forest Music's first foal to race. Asmussen has trained such notable stars as Horses of the Year Curlin and Rachel Alexandra in recent seasons.

Flightofalifetime was three lengths clear of 40-1 Fiarano. Flightofalifetime ran well in defeat, his first start for trainer Bob Baffert after a series of quick workouts in the last month.