Bettarun Fast upsets Santa Paula

Bettarun Fast, the second-longest shot in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, won her first stakes since September in Saturday's $105,650 at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Bettarun Fast ($64) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.08, finishing a half-length in front of El Mirage Queen, who was a nose in front of Acceleration. Bettarun Fast was fifth for the first half-mile, stalking a wickedly fast pace of 21.26 and 43.67 seconds set by Candy Jo and El Mirage Queen. Gryder kept Bettarun Fast on the inside, and found room in early stretch before taking the lead in the final furlong.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin had expressed concern before the race about whether Bettarun Fast would be suited to the 6 1/2 furlongs, but she showed no signs of yielding her lead in the final sixteenth.

The Grade 3 Santa Paula is by far the most prestigious win in Bettarun Fast's career.

Owned by Patricia and Stephen Fitzpatrick, Bettarun Fast has won 4 of 8 starts and $168,505. She won a sprint stakes on turf at Calder last September when trained by Kathleen O'Connell. The Santa Paula was Bettarun Fast's first win in five starts in California.

Ladies Souvenir, the 4-5 favorite, was making her stakes debut after winning her first two starts in northern California. She bobbled slightly at the start, stalked the pace while wide on the backstretch, and finished fourth.