Persianlux pulls a fast one in SLO
February 17, 2001
by Steve Andersen
Daily Racing Form
ARCADIA, Calif. - Persianlux, an ex-claimer dismissed at 27-1, led throughout Saturday's $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita to win his first stakes in the United States.
The Grade 2 San Luis Obispo gave jockey Tyler Baze the richest win of his two-year career and was the first winner from 17 starters at the winter-spring meeting for trainer Wally Dollase. Baze was named the outstanding apprenctice jockey of 2000 last month.
To keep the win, Persianlux was the subject of a steward's inquiry regarding an incident at the three-eighths pole when third-place finisher Falcon Flight was forced to check while nearing the winner. The stewards studied the tapes for four minutes before making no changes.
Persianlux ($57.20) was always clear through fractions of :25.43; :49.55; and 1:14.04. Falcon Flight was within a half-length at the end of the backstretch, but took up and dropped back to third. Persianlux pulled clear to lead by four lengths in early stretch.
A 5-year-old gelding, Persianlux won by five lengths over Devon Deputy, finishing 1 1-2 miles in 2:27.70 before an ontrack crowd of 11,526.
Devon Deputy finished a length in front of Falcon Flight, who was a length clear of Northern Quest, the 8-5 favorite.
Persianlux has won 6 of 16 starts and $270,796. Owned by Randy Lowe, Gary Margolis and the Horizon Stable syndicate, Persianlux won two turf marathons for $50,000 claimers during the Oak Tree meeting last fall.
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