Native Desert captures Bay Meadows stakes

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Millionaire Cal-bred Native Desert won the 21st race of his career as he outfinished Cat Flight to win the $67,513 Foster City Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Native Desert ($7) was in tight on the rail behind surprising pacesetter R McLennen when he finally got room to run inside the eighth pole of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. He charged to the lead and beat Cat Flight, who rallied outside R McLennen by one-half length. The winning time was 1:42.64. R McLennen was third, beaten a head by Cat Flight.

"(R McLennen) kept coming down on me," winning jockey Jason Lumpkins said. "It was about as tight as it gets, but this horse didn't earn a million by being bashful."

Nine-year-old Native Desert has now won $1,747,111.