Blue Chagall pulls away in Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Blue Chagall benefited from a ground-saving trip from jockey Garrett Gomez to win Sunday's $65,980 Lure Stakes at Santa Anita.

Gomez kept Blue Chagall on the inside to early stretch and rallied between pacesetter Yacht Spotter and Gothic Samurai before pulling away to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Blue Chagall ($6.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.14.

Gothic Samurai, fourth for the first half-mile, edged Yacht Spotter by a head for place. Yacht Spotter finished a nose in front of Colony for third. Tiz West, the 3-2 favorite, was wide for the first half-mile and faded to finish sixth in the stretch.

Blue Chagall races for Prestonwood Farm and trainer Julio Canani. A 4-year-old, Blue Chagall has won 4 of 14 starts and $201,576. Canani said that Blue Chagall was gelded earlier this year and has responded since then by winning 2 of 3 starts.