Crazy Ensign rallies to win Avigaition Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Crazy Ensign rallied from last in the final half-mile to win Sunday's $74,150 Avigaition Stakes at Santa Anita, her second stakes win of the year.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Crazy Ensign ($4.80) finished 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.17.

Crazy Ensign was at the back of the field for the first six furlongs, well behind the quick pace of 22.98 and 45.93 seconds shared by Go on Baby and Dessert.

On the final turn, Crazy Ensign moved forward on the inside to reach contention, rallied between fillies and mares in the final furlong and wore down a determined Garden in the Rain to win by a half-length.

Adalgisa finished third in the field of seven. Dessert, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in August, finished last.

Crazy Ensign has won three of her last four starts, a span that includes a win in the CTT and TOC Handicap at Del Mar and a third in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes on Sept. 28. Owned by El Faruk Stable and trained by Richard Mandella, Crazy Ensign, 7, has won 9 of 30 starts and $563,557.

Mandella said the Dahlia Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on Dec. 20 may be Crazy Ensign's next start.