Santa Anita: Costume proves best

Costume continued her dominance of the California turf female division this winter with a front-running win in the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita.

Winning her second consecutive graded stakes, Costume held off a late run from 11-1 Immortelle and 2-1 favorite Lavender Sky to win the Grade 2 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf. She was timed in 1:48.08.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Costume ($6.60) led by a length through early fractions of 23.30 and 48.30 seconds. After leading by two lengths in the stretch, Costume was challenged by Immortelle and Lavender Sky but held on to win by a head. Immortelle finished a head in front of Lavender Sky, who was a head in front of Foxysox in the field of eight fillies and mares.

The stewards conducted a four-minute review of the stretch run after David Flores, the rider of Immortelle, lodged an objection, citing contact with Costume in the final sixteenth. The order of finish was not altered.

A 4-year-old filly, Costume is owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bobby Frankel. She has won 3 of 12 starts and $309,464. Costume won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Handicap at a mile on turf last month, the first stakes win in a career that began in Europe.