Cyclometer gets first graded stakes win in Los Angeles Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cyclometer did his part to ensure a competitive running of the $92,000 Los Angeles Stakes at Santa Anita on Monday.

After the morning scratch of Super Ninety Nine and the late withdrawal of the heavily favored Wild Dude, Cyclometer inherited the role of favorite – and lived up to expectations, beating two rivals.

Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Cyclometer disputed the early pace with Wine Police, took a one-length lead on the turn, and scored a comfortable win by 2 1/2 lengths. Cyclometer ($4) ran six furlongs in 1:09.02.

The 6-year-old horse races for breeders Andrew and Irwin Molasky and Bruce Headley, who is also trainer.

“He’s a perfect horse to train,” said Karen Headley, assistant to her father. “When he’s fit, he knows what do to. He’ll do what he’s supposed to do.”

Cyclometer and Wine Police shared an early quarter-mile fraction of 21.47 seconds. Cyclometer set a half-mile fraction in 44.22 while racing on the inside. Wine Police was on the inside on the backstretch, but jockey Victor Espinoza guided his mount to the outside of Cyclometer on the turn. Wine Police was within a length of Cyclometer with a furlong remaining but could not get closer in the stretch.

“When he cut the corner, I knew he was on his way,” Headley said.

Color of Courage, making his first start since a second in the Grade 3 Vernon Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park last November, finished last of the trio, 10 3/4 lengths behind Wine Police.

Wild Dude, who won the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes in February, was the 3-5 favorite with two minutes to post when jockey Mike Smith dismounted on the backstretch. The stewards scratched Wild Dude on advice of the track veterinarian, citing unsoundness. Super Ninety Nine, unraced since a third in the Santa Anita Derby in April 2013, was scratched early Monday.

Cyclometer, a California-bred by Cyclotron, won his second stakes of 2014 and his first career graded stakes in the Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes. In January, Cyclometer won the minor Midnight Lute Stakes. Cyclometer has won 6 of 21 starts and earned $417,004.