Mountain Rage best in La Puente

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mountain Rage remained unbeaten in 2002, and won the fourth stakes of his career, with a ground-saving trip in Sunday's $82,050 La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Mountain Rage ($5.60) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.84, finishing three lengths in front of Doc Holiday. Stormy Forever was third in the field of eight, finishing a half-length in front of the well-fancied Johar.

Mountain Rage stayed on the inside until the second turn when Espinoza rallied inside.

In early stretch, Mountain Rage rallied three wide to catch Doc Holiday. Johar, alongside Mountain Rage on the backstretch, rallied wide and was not a factor in the final furlong.

Earlier this year, Mountain Rage won the Hill Rise Stakes and a division of the Academy Road Stakes for owners Jill Moss and George Jacobs and trainer Bob Baffert. Last year, Mountain Rage won the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Baffert said Mountain Rage will be pointed for the $250,000 Hawthorne Derby over 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 11.