Mea Domina best in Las Palmas

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mea Domina returned earlier than expected from a five-month layoff to win Saturday's $150,000 at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.

Trainer Ron McAnally had intended to run Mea Domina at Hollywood Park this fall, but moved the comeback forward Hollywood Park said it would not run races on turf because the course was not in satisfactory condition.

The only local opportunity was the Grade 2 Las Palmas, a race that Mea Domina won convincingly by a length over Elusive Diva.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Mea Domina ($9.40) set fractions of 22.86 and 46 seconds and was not threatened in the stretch, finishing a mile on turf in 1:33.59.

Elusive Diva, who tracked Mea Domina throughout, finished a neck in front of Star Parade in the field of 10 fillies and mares.

Mea Domina, 4, has won 6 of 11 starts and $562,676 for owner-breeder Janis Whitham. She won the Grade 1 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park in May but was sidelined during the summer because of a quarter crack.