No Bull Baby hits the lead, stays there in Santa Paula

No Bull Baby, a fixture in the local female sprint division over the last year, won the second stakes of her career in Saturday's $86,250 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita.

Leading throughout under jockey Victor Espinoza, No Bull Baby ($8.60) finished 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.79. Breaking from post 2, she led by a half-length over stablemate and favorite Inspiring through fractions of 21.26 and 43.79 seconds.

"I didn't expect to be on the lead," Espinoza said. "I broke so sharp, I thought, I better go. That track is a little bit fast."

Inspiring, the even-money favorite, led for a few strides in early stretch, but faded in the final furlong as No Bull Baby pulled clear to win by two lengths.

Leave Me Alone rallied from fifth to finish second, a length in front of Inspiring in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.

No Bull Baby races for Hal and Patti Earnhardt and is trained by Bob Baffert. By Indian Charlie, No Bull Baby has won 3 of 8 starts and $210,188.