Voodoo Dancer best in Palomar

DEL MAR, Calif. - For Voodoo Dancer, Del Mar was better the second time around. The beaten favorite in last year's Del Mar Oaks, Voodoo Dancer made a triumphant return to this track on Sunday when she unleashed a powerful rally to capture the $150,000 .

The Palomar, a Grade 2 turf race for older fillies and mares, was an afterthought for trainer Christophe Clement. He called an audible and sent Voodoo Dancer back to California after an intended start in the Ballston Spa Handicap at Saratoga was washed away by the rain that fell on Travers Stakes day.

Voodoo Dancer dominated her six rivals. Covered up, per usual, for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race, Voodoo Dancer produced a sensational rally under jockey Kent Desormeaux. She hit the front soon after entering the stretch and powered home two lengths the best over the longshot I'm the Business, who nosed out pacesetting Skywriting for second.

Janet, the 9-5 second choice, was a disappointing sixth.

Voodoo Dancer ($4.40), the race favorite, was timed in 1:41.56 on the firm course. The final five-sixteenths of a mile of the race was run in 29 seconds, during which Voodoo Dancer made up nearly four lengths.

"She shipped much better this time than last year," said Christophe Lorieul, an assistant to Clement who represented the New York-based stable at Del Mar. "It was really hot last year for the Del Mar Oaks. She also wasn't on Lasix then. That makes a difference. We were hoping to find firm turf, and we did."

Voodoo Dancer, a 4-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, has now won nine times in 15 starts. This was her fourth trip to California. She also won the Flawlessly Handicap at Hollywood Park last year, and was third in the Grade 1 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park this past Memorial Day.