Sacramento: Marks Mine handles elders in California State Fair Sprint

Marks Mine, a 3-year-old filly meeting older for the first time, stalked a fast pace and dominated in the lane to win Saturday's $75,700 California State Fair Sprint Handicap at Sacramento.

Marks Mine ($7.20) settled nicely under jockey Frank Alvarado as Fightin Mean Mad cut out an extremely fast pace. She was third, 1 1/2 lengths behind the leader, through a 21.43-second opening quarter.

Marks Mine was still 1 1/2 lengths back at the quarter pole but second as Distinctive Yolie began to give was after a 43.57 opening half.

But Fightin Mean Mad could not keep up the torrid pace, and Alvarado guided Marks Mine quickly to the lead as the field turned for home and she pulled away for a four-length victory in 1:08.93 in the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

Paris in April, the longest shot on the board, rallied for second with favored English Royal, last year's runner-up in the race, third, another length back.

Fightin Mean Mad was disqualified from fifth to sixth after coming over and bumping Distinctive Yolie shortly after the break.

"They were in the gate a long time, and she didn't break sharp," said Marks Mine's trainer, Steve Specht.

"I'm glad she's starting to settle. She's got speed to sit where she wants, but when she settles early, she finishes strong. Frank has done a pretty good job getting her to relax."

A Benchmark homebred owned by Larry and Marianne Williams, Marks Mine scored her second stakes victory while winning for the fourth time in 10 starts. She earned $45,050 to increase her lifetime earnings to $203,500.