Geronimo victorious in Morvich

ARCADIA, Calif. - A ground-saving trip behind a fast pace allowed favorite Geronimo ($6.40) and jockey Kent Desormeaux to snap a string of seconds and win the Grade 3 Morvich Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita. A 6-year-old gelding racing in the six and one-furlong turf sprint for the third straight year, Geronimo won by a head over King Robyn. Jungle Prince finished a nose back in third.

Trained by John Sadler, Geronimo's last 12 starts included one win and seven seconds. But when the Morvich pace unraveled, he rallied from last of eight, split horses late, and won the $100,000 for his 11th win. Geronimo finished fourth in the 2004 Morvich; third in 2003.

Desormeaux, whose previous 14 mounts included six seconds without a win, returned to win the last race of the day. Owners Gary and Cecil Barber claimed Geronimo for $80,000 in February. The Morvich was Geronimo's first win for the owners. Attendance on Saturday at Santa Anita was 17,791.