American Pastime wins KLAQ Handicap

Saturday afternoon's $50,000-added KLAQ Handicap looked like a good race on paper and the results were not disappointing. Abajo, the 3-2 favorite with Garrett Gomez up, bid along the rail late on the turn and opened a seemingly insurmountable lead by midstretch. However, Ricardo Jaime, aboard American Pastime, was just getting his mount rolling. Jaime had moved up from well off the rail on the turn but saw an opening toward the inside nearing the stretch and went for it. At that point it was just a matter of getting there, and get there he did, gaining a nose decision after five and one-half furlongs in 1:03.32.

Trainer Todd Fincher claimed Aerican Pastime for $50,000 in mid-October at Santa Anita for owner R. E. Bullin and with a wealth of sprint stakes on the Sunalnd schedule it looks as if a good winter is ahead. American Pastime returned $12.60 as a slight overlay. Second choice Reflecting Colors finished third, ona and a quarter lengths back despite being carried wide into the stretch.