High Limit victorious in San Pasqual

ARCADIA, Calif. - As with fruits and vegetables, the fresher High Limit, the better. High Limit made his first start since September on Saturday at Santa Anita and, as he did in his debut in 2004 and his first start of 2005, he won, this time in the Grade 2, $150,000 .

High Limit was fully extended to prevail, and benefited by having red-hot jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who won five races on Saturday. High Limit, who led from start to finish, just held off Buckland Manor to win by a nose, with Spellbinder another half-length back in third. Turnbolt was fourth and was followed, in order, by Bully Hayes, Melanyhasthepapers, and Sam Forli.

High Limit ($7.80), the slight favorite, set fractions of 23.28 seconds, 46.55 seconds, 1:10.60, and 1:36.62 en route to a final time of 1:43.64 for 1 1/16 miles on the fast track.

"He's a tough horse," said trainer Bobby Frankel, who won three consecutives with Valenzuela on Saturday. "He's been training well. He looks better than last year. He's grown up a little bit. He was a light horse."

High Limit won his first start at 2 in October 2004, then last year returned from a 4 1/2-month layoff to capture the Louisiana Derby. He then lost six straight races -- including a last place finish in the Kentucky Derby -- before Frankel gave High Limit a vacation following a pair of poor races on turf.

High Limit, 4, has now won four times in 10 starts. He is owned by Gary and Mary West.