Janeian rides trip to victory in Royal Heroine

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Janeian turned a perfect trip into her first California stakes win in Saturday's $109,800 Royal Heroine Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Janeian ($5.80) stalked pacesetters Hippogator and Sparkling Ava through an early pace of 23.70 and 47.20 seconds, circled the two pacesetters on the final turn, and took the lead in the final furlong.

Janeian held off a late run from favored Katdogawn to win by two lengths and finished a mile on turf in 1:34.79.

Katdogawn, who broke slowly, was well behind the leaders on the backstretch. She closed ground on the final turn and rallied on the rail to finish a half-length in front of Makeup Artist in the field of six older fillies and mares.

Sparkling Ava finished fourth, followed by Fun House and Hippogator. Etoile Montante, who would have been a strong favorite, was withdrawn Friday because of illness.

Janeian, 6, has won 9 of 32 starts and $341,114. Bred in New Zealand, Janeian raced in California until she was acquired by Greg England and turned over to trainer Bret Calhoun in the summer of 2003.

Janeian won the Irving Distaff Stakes at Lone Star Park in April.