Distinctiv Passion by a neck in Los Angeles Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Distinctiv Passion had a friendly homecoming in Monday’s $98,000 Los Angeles Stakes at Santa Anita, his first race since a disappointing trip to Dubai in March.

Allowed to set a relatively slow early pace, Distinctiv Passion ($6.60) held off a late threat from 9-10 favorite San Onofre to win by a neck.

Distinctiv Passion, who ran six furlongs in 1:08, ran an opening quarter-mile in 22.19 seconds, giving jockey Edwin Maldonado confidence he could have hold off the pursuers.

“When he left there, he relaxed beautifully,” Maldonado said.

San Onofre was third early and second with a furlong remaining, two lengths behind Distinctiv Passion. San Onofre steadily reduced the margin but could not catch the leader in the final strides.

“I knew I had enough horse to win,” Maldonado said. “I was waiting on the other horse before I made my move. I knew it was a two-horse race.”

Wild Dude, who won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes here in March, finished third, clear of War Academy. Only four started. Five Palms and Spirit Rules were scratched early Monday.

Distinctiv Passion, a 5-year-old by With Distinction, has won 8 of 17 starts and earned $456,660. Distinctiv Passion is trained by Jeff Bonde for Edmund Brown Jr., Alan Klein, and Phil Lebherz.

Distinctiv Passion has won four of his last five starts in the United States, a span that includes wins in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes here in December and the Joe Hernandez Stakes here in February. Distinctiv Passion was 13th of 16 in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint at five furlongs on a straightway turf course in Dubai on March 28, a race on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup.

“The grass was too long, and he couldn’t get a grip of it,” said Maldonado, who was aboard for the Dubai race.