ARCADIA, Calif. - Stark Contrast remained unbeaten on turf with a one-length win in Sunday’s Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile at Santa Anita. The win will likely to lead to an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31. Stark Contrast ($9.20) closed from fourth in a field of five to take the lead in the final furlong, displaying a smart performance in his stakes debut. “He was training like that, too,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. Third Beer (7-1) closed from last in the final quarter-mile to finish second, a neck in front of 8-5 Proletariat. Caro Buono, the 13-10 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Won for Lou. Medici was scratched on veterinary advice on Sunday morning, while Charlie’s Curlin was withdrawn later in the morning by trainer Peter Miller. :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. Stark Contrast, who started from the inside post and was ridden by Kazushi Kimura, stalked Proletariat while racing in fourth on the outside on the backstretch. Proletariat set a relatively quick pace of 22.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and a half-mile in 46.20. Stark Contrast was third turning into the stretch while racing wide, and steadily closed ground to reach the front. “I took him to the outside,” Kimura said. “He had a smooth stride. At the three-eighths pole, he had great acceleration.” Stark Contrast was timed in 1:34.77 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 71. Trainer Michael McCarthy spoke confidently about Stark Contrast in the days before Sunday’s race. McCarthy said after Sunday’s win that “you have to” think about the BC Juvenile Turf with an improving colt such as Stark Contrast. Third Beer had his second start in the Zuma Beach, having won a maiden race for California-bred milers at Del Mar on Aug. 29. Jockey Antonio Fresu said Third Beer has every chance to develop into a promising colt. :: BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more “He’s still green,” Fresu said. “Today, he improved, but really he’s still a big baby. He was looking around at the three-eighths. He seems like a really nice horse.” Stark Contrast, by Caravaggio, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $112,800. Stark Contrast was a well-beaten fourth in a maiden race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 3, and won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 6, closing from sixth of 10. Stark Contrast races for John and Jerry Amerman, who bred the colt in Kentucky. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.