Winner's circle is her Final Destination

ARCADIA, Calif. - A few years ago, the New Zealand import Happyanunoit was one of the top turf females in trainer Bobby Frankel's stable before her retirement in the summer of 2001.

Frankel may have found a suitable replacement from New Zealand in Final Destination.

On Monday at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old Final Destination won her first stakes in the United States in the $150,000 over a mile on turf.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Final Destination ($5.80) rallied around fading pacesetters Walt's Wharf and Repository in early stretch and held off a stubborn Garden in the Rain to win by a half-length.

"She slowed down a bit in the stretch because she likes to wait a little bit on horses," Espinoza said. "She doesn't want to make winning too easy."

Final Destination finished a mile on turf in 1:35.99 over a turf course rated good.

"I don't think she's near her best and she's won five in a row," Frankel said.

Garden in the Rain, the slight favorite, finished 2 1-2 lengths in front of Embassy Belle, who was followed by Repository, I'm the Business and Walt's Wharf.

Final Destination began her career in New Zealand, where she won two Group 1 races in 2001 - the 1000 Guineas and the Bayer Classic. Purchased last year by Edmund Gann, Final Destination has not lost in five starts over a 16-month span. Overall, she has won 5 of 11 starts and $211,194.