'Bettys Bambino' Wins $100K Daytona Stakes At Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Bettys Bambino won the $100,000 Daytona Stakes by a half-length Sunday in his stakes debut at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Bettys Bambino ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1:12.49 and paid $8, $4 and $3 as the 3-1 second choice.

Lil Bit O'Fun returned $5.20 and $3.20, while 6-5 favorite Sweet Swap was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show.

Garcia rode the race in considerable pain.

"My horse hit me in the head and then he hit me in the right knee too against the gate," Garcia said. "He was leaning on my knee that was in between him and the gate. In the moment, the win was just exciting with the adrenaline. Now I just need to go to the doctor to get checked out."

Bettys Bambino won his third straight race on Santa Anita's turf course, and fourth in five tries.

The victory, worth $60,000, increased Bettys Bambino's career earnings to $258,036, with five wins in nine starts.

In the $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes, Harlington's Rose ran down 6-5 favorite Awesome Baby and Tribal Gal to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Harlington's Rose ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.48 and paid $37.60, $12.60 and $8.60 at 17-1 odds in her first stakes victory.

The win, worth $60,000, increased Harlington's Rose's career earnings to $277,680, with three wins in 18 starts.

"She was real classy," Talamo said. "She broke well and she put me in a good spot early on. We had a great trip the whole way around."

Tribal Gal returned $4.20 and $4, while Doinghardtimeagain was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.40 to show.

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