Another Santa Barbara for Frankel

ARCADIA, CaliF. - Naughty Rafaela, a Group 1 winner in Brazil in 2005, won her first stakes in the United States in Saturday's $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita.

The victory gave trainer Bobby Frankel his sixth career win in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara and fourth in the last five years. Frankel won the Santa Barbara in 2003-05 with Megahertz.

Saturday, Naughty Rafaela had an ideal trip under David Flores. A 5-year-old mare, Naughty Rafaela stalked the pace to the final turn and rallied on the rail before pulling away to win by a length over 16-1 Mabadi. Sweet Belle, an 11-1 outsider, finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.

Live Life, the 2-1 favorite, was part of a duel for the lead to the final turn before fading to last.

The distance of the Santa Barbara was reduced from 1 1/4 miles on turf to 1 1/8 miles on turf after track officials deemed the crossover from the hillside turf course to the main oval was too slippery because of rain last Friday.

Naughty Rafaela ($7.20) was timed in 1:48.12. Owned by Stud TNT, Naughty Rafaela has won 4 of 11 starts and $206,224.

Bonfante wins main-track San Simeon

Bonfante won his first stakes in Southern California in the $103,488 San Simeon Handicap, which was transferred from the hillside turf course to the main track.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Bonfante ($14.20), finished a nose in front of Battle Won, who was clear of (8-5 favorite) Siren Lure and Turnbolt in the field of four. Bonfante ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.59.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Ron McAnally, Bonfante has won 10 of 23 starts and $473,817, including several stakes in northern California.