Santa Anita: Rosengold shows new dimension in Pasadena

ARCADIA, Calif. - Rosengold won his second consecutive turf stakes – and showed a new dimension – with a sharp victory as the favorite in Friday’s $72,800 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Rosengold stalked pacesetter Meringue Pie for the first six furlongs, took the lead in early stretch and won by a half-length over Procurement, the 5-2 second choice. Rosengold was timed in 1:34.20. In his previous two wins, Rosengold went wire to wire.

Owned by breeder Bill Currin and trained by Julio Canani, Rosengold ($5.40) won the Baffle Stakes over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on March 2.

The Pasadena Stakes was Rosengold’s fourth start of the meeting and of his career. He was ninth in his debut in a maiden race on the main track on Jan. 5, but rebounded to win a maiden race on a wet-fast track on Jan. 26 in his second start.

Canani suggested on Friday that Rosengold would not start again for the rest of the meeting, but there is one more turf stakes for the 3-year-old division – the $70,000 La Puente Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on April 21, closing day of the meeting.