Excessive Blend takes second straight stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - Excessive Blend won her second consecutive stakes of the Del Mar meeting in Friday's $112,525 Sandy Blue Handicap, her first stakes appearance on turf.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Excessive Blend ($10.40) had an ideal trip in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Excessive Blend stalked pacesetter Burg Berg through early fractions of 22.93 and 47.01 seconds. On the turn, Talamo brought Excessive Blend wide and she took the lead in the stretch, pulling away to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 19-1 outsider Ultra Blend. Burg Berg, a 15-1 shot, held third in the field of nine.

Excessive Blend, by In Excess, ran a mile on turf in 1:34.52.

April Pride, the 3-1 favorite, could only manage eighth. She was as close as fourth with a furlong remaining, but was not a factor late.

Excessive Blend won the Fleet Treat Stakes against statebred 3-year-old filly sprinters here on July 25. Owned by breeder Warren Williamson, Excessive Blend has won 3 of 5 starts and $173,175.