Atlantic Ocean wins Santa Ysabel

ARCADIA, Calif. - Atlantic Ocean scored her third career stakes win in Sunday's $110,900 at Santa Anita, beating a field that lacked any other graded stakes winners.

Sent off as the favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, Atlantic Ocean overcome trouble on the first turn to reach a stalking position on the backstretch behind pacesetter Harbor Blues. On the final turn, Atlantic Ocean rallied three-wide to challenge Harbor Blues, took the lead in the final furlong and held off the late challenge of Sea Jewel and Summer Wind Dancer through the stretch.

Ridden by David Flores, Atlantic Ocean finished 1 1-16 miles in 1:43.25, scoring by three-quarters of a length over Sea Jewel. Summer Wind Dancer was a length behind Sea Jewel.

Atlantic Ocean was making her first start since winning the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes on turf at Hollywood Park on Nov. 29. Owned by The Thoroughbred Corp., and trained by Bob Baffert, Atlantic Ocean has won 4 of 9 starts and $301,320.

"It's nice to know she can run on turf or dirt," Baffert said. "We expected her to win, but I thought she'd be on the lead."

Last fall, Atlantic Ocean won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies, but later finished fourth in the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland and ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park.

Atlantic Ocean gave jockey David Flores his third consecutive win on Sunday's program.

"Right now, David is in the zone and he's riding with a lot of confidence," Baffert said.

* Spinelessjellyfish ($7.40) ended a 13-race losing streak with a hard-fought win in the $108,300 Sensesational Star Handicap, the second time the veteran has won the turf sprint for California-breds.

Ridden by Julie Krone, Spinelessjellyfish ran about 6 1-2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:11.84, just missing El Cielo's 2001 track record of 1:11.46.

Breaking from the rail, Spinelessjellyfish was fourth early. When the field crossed over the dirt onto the main turf course, Spinelessjellyfish emerged between horses to take the lead. He was ridden to the line to finish a neck in front of Macward, who beat Turkish Prize by a length in the field of six.

The 7-year-old Spinelessjellyfish has won 10 of 34 starts and $807,533 for Cardiff Stud Farm and trainer Jenine Sahadi. He won the 2000 Sensational Star Handicap.