Sky Cape upsets La Jolla

DEL MAR, Calif. - It took more than three months, but Sky Cape completed a stakes hat trick with an upset win in Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.

Sky Cape won the Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park in April and the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in May.

Ridden on Saturday by Joel Rosario, Sky Cape ($27.60) stalked pacesetter Liberian Freighter to early stretch and pulled clear in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Tangled Tango, who was fourth on the backstretch. Liberian Freighter, who set a modest pace of 24.01 and 48.01 seconds, held third in the field of 10 3-year-olds.

Sky Cape ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40.92.

Nownownow, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park last fall, finished fifth in his first start in the United States this year. Tiz West, the 5-2 favorite, finished last.

Sky Cape has won 5 of 14 starts and $320,230 for Steve Taub and Visionary Racing. Trained by Kristin Mulhall.