Stellar Wind Wins $200,000 Summertime Oaks At Santa Anita

ARCADIA (AP) — Stellar Wind won the $200,000 Summertime Oaks by a nose under Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The 3-year-old daughter of Curlin ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.53 to remain undefeated in three starts at the track. Stellar Wind paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 as the heavy 2-5 favorite. She was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1.

Tara's Tango returned $3.80 and $2.80 in her graded stakes debut under Hall of Famer Mike Smith, while Conquest Curlgirl was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.60 to show.

"I have to give Mike a lot of credit because Tara's Tango was really fighting and he was riding her so hard," Espinoza said. "But Stellar Wind got the job done and she felt great. I know it's a little bit hot, but she seemed to come back really well after the wire."

Stellar Wind carried five pounds more than the 118 pounds assigned to the rest of the field.

The victory, worth $120,000, increased Stellar Wind's career earnings to $493,200, with four wins in six starts for trainer John Sadler.

In the $75,000 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds, Soul Driver won by 4 1/2 lengths.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, Soul Driver ran one mile on turf in 1:35.60 and paid $9.20, $4.80 and $3.40.

Zinvor returned $4 and $3.20, while Seve's Road was another neck back in third and paid $5.40 to show.

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