Santa Anita: Mildly Offensive completes stakes sweep for Bejarano in Santa Paula

ARCADIA, Calif.- Mildly Offensive had little difficulty extending her unbeaten streak to two races in Sunday’s $100,000 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita.

In doing so, she ran to her odds as the 1-2 favorite, gave jockey Rafael Bejarano a sweep of the day’s two stakes, and further enhanced her status as a 3-year-old filly to follow.

Mildly Offensive ($3) stalked leader California Nectar on the backstretch, took the lead on turn and won by 4 1/4 lengths in a hand-ride from Bejarano, the meeting’s second-leading rider. Earlier in the day, he won the San Luis Rey Stakes on Juniper Pass

Mildly Offensive ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.70 on a sloppy track.

“That was amazing,” trainer Carla Gaines said. “Nothing bothers her. Weird.”

Mildly Offensive was never far from the lead despite racing in the middle of the track on the backstretch. Bejarano kept a hold of Mildly Offensive until the turn when she responded when urged to zoom past California Nectar.

“My filly was the best filly in the race,”’ Bejarano said. “When the horse on the lead started lugging out a little bit, I tried to get to the rail, save a little ground and let her run in the stretch.”

Hout Bay, who like Mildly Offensive won her debut against maidens earlier this year, closed from fifth in a field of six to finish second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of 18-1 Justenufappeal. Tiz the Route, California Nectar, and Joe Ja completed the order of finish.

California Nectar won two sprint stakes in the division earlier this year, but faded through the stretch in the Santa Paula after dueling through early fractions of 21.55 and 43.81 seconds.

Mildly Offensive, by Distorted Humor, has earned $92,400 for owner Warren Williamson.