Direct Connect victorious in Cavonnier Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Direct Connect pushed his stakes winning streak to two races with a come-from-behind victory Sunday's $79,650 at Santa Anita. The race served as a prep to the $125,000 California Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Direct Connect ($8.80) rallied from more than 12 lengths off the pace to win the Cavonnier Stakes for state-breds 2-year-olds by a length. Direct Connect finished seven furlongs in 1:23.32.

Moonlite Romance, who led on the backstretch, finished second, followed by At a Boy Russ, Seven Nation Army and Her Red.

Direct Connect has won 2 of 3 starts and $121,860 for owner Omar Aldabbagh and trainer Paul Aguirre. Direct Connect finished second in his debut at Del Mar on Sept. 3 and won the Barretts Juvenile Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 18.