Seattle invader posts 22-1 Sun Devil upset

PHOENIX Emerald invader Malia Sofia took to her new surroundings and posted a 22-1 upset in Saturday's $50,000 Sun Devil Stakes at Turf Paradise.

Owned by Dan Agnew and trained by Carol Hubbard, Malia Sofia sat in midpack in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, stayed out wide, and finished gamely to get up by a nose to beat 9-5 favorite Briecat. Briecat stalked the pace and took the lead in midstretch. It was two lengths farther back to Pure and Simple in the field of 11. R Charlies Angel, invading from Southern California while coming off a long layoff, was well back early and ran on to be fifth as the 5-2 second choice.

Malia Sofia covered the six furlongs in 1:09.74 on fast going under Anne Von Rosen. She paid $47.80, and the winners share of $30,000 pushed her career bankroll to $60,743.