Ultra Blend captures State Fair Sprint

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ultra Blend ($5.40), the most accomplished runner in the field and the favorite despite having only one start in 2010, lived up to expectations and pulled clear in the lane to win the $78,000 California State Fair Sprint on Saturday.

Ultra Blend, winner of one stakes and placed in four others, including the Grade 3 Santa Paula, settled nicely behind leader Dianne Do down the backstretch. Jockey Russell Baze sent her three wide on the turn, moving into contention in the stretch. She collared the pacesetter at the eighth pole and pulled away to win the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares by two lengths over Irish Gypsy in 1:08.64. Dianne Do was third, another neck back.

Ultra Blend was making only her second start since running second in the Sandy Blue at Del Mar last August. She ran third in a six-furlong turf sprint at Hollywood Park on June 23, losing by a half-length.

A 4-year-old Richly Blended filly, Ultra Blend is a Cal-bred owned by Nels Erickson and trained by Steve Sherman. She earned $45,100 for her fifth victory in 13 starts, and her career earnings are now $232,098.