Now maybe Grammarian will get some respect

ARCADIA, Calif. - No matter how consistently he performs, Grammarian cannot attract substantial support from California bettors.

Last July, he was 29-1 when he won the Sunset Handicap. On Sunday, he was 9-1 in the and rewarded his backers with a frontrunning win in the turf race over 1 1/8 miles.

"We get no respect and that's fine," said winning owner Lindsey Williams, with a smile.

Grammarian ($21.40) took the lead from Night Patrol when the field reached the backstretch and maintained a one-length advantage through fractions of :47.50 and 1:11.53.

Night Patrol faded from contention at the end of the backstretch, allowing David Copperfield to pose a threat on the final turn. But jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. had Grammarian running comfortably and led to the wire, finishing in 1:48.12.

"I think he's a horse that relaxes when he gets to the front," said winning trainer Beau Greely. "It was a great ride."

David Copperfield finished a length in front of Decarchy, the 3-5 favorite. Decarchy was in mid-pack to the final turn and could not make up sufficient ground in the stretch. Blue Steller, White Heart, Seinne, Investor's Dream, Zanapour and Night Patrol completed the order of finish.

The 5-year-old Grammarian has won 4 of 10 starts and $356,956. The San Gabriel was his first stakes win since the Sunset Handicap.

Williams and Greely said the $400,000 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on April 20 is a long-term goal, with the Breeders' Cup Turf or Melbourne Cup a possibility in the fall.