Silent Sighs best in Santa Anita Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. - Silent Sighs ended the winning streak of two unbeaten fillies - the champion Halfbridled and A.P. Adventure - with an impressive win in Saturday's $300,000 .

The victory left trainer Julio Canani wondering where his filly ranks on the national scene as the Kentucky Oaks on April 30 draws closer.

"This filly is very green and very awkward because she's big, but she's very talented," Canani said.

Ridden by David Flores, Silent Sighs ($15.40) beat Halbridled by 1 1-2 lengths, finishing 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.84. A.P. Adventure, the winner of two stakes at this meeting, finished third, losing by three lengths.

Halfbridled won four races last year, a campaign that included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last October. The Santa Anita Oaks was her first start of 2004. She was sent off at 1-2.

Silent Sighs and Halfbridled raced close to the front throughout the Oaks. Silent Sighs tracked pacesetter Salty Romance through early fractions of 22.98 and 46.49 seconds, and gained the lead on the second turn.

"When it was time to go, she made a big move," Flores said. "She didn't change leads, but it didn't matter. She did the job."

Halfbridled rallied from fourth along the inside on the final turn, but could not make up the difference on Silent Sighs, who led by two lengths at the eighth pole.

"She got kind of up in the bit on the first turn and it looked like it got her unsettled," said Richard Mandella, who trains Halfbridled. "We have no excuses."

Gary Stevens rode Halfbridled for the first time, replacing the injured Julie Krone.

Silent Sighs races for breeders Marty and Pam Wygod. A California-bred by Benchmark, Silent Sighs has won 4 of 5 starts and $442,700. The Santa Anita Oaks was her third consecutive win, but first outside of state-bred company.

* Lennyfromalibu ($3) confirmed his status as the top California-bred turf miler with a hard-fought win in the $109,000 Crystal Water Handicap for state-breds.

Ridden by Alex Solis, Lennyfromalibu stalked pacesetter Ride and Shine to the final turn before taking the lead.

Lennyfromalibu finished a mile on turf in 1:34.91, holding off a sustained challenge from Spinelessjellyfish to win by a half-length. Ringaskiddy finished third in the field of seven.

Lennyfromalibu won the California Cup Mile last fall. Owned by Madeline Auerbach and trained by Barry Abrams, Lennyfromalibu has won 6 of 17 starts and $404,906.

* Ender's Shadow, last of 10 in the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes on Jan. 10, rebounded to score a 43-1 upset in the $75,300 Tokyo City Handicap.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Mick Ruis, Ender's Shadow ($88.40) led throughout the mile, scoring by three lengths over Total Impact. Gift of the Eagle finished third in the field of nine older horses.