Horse Racing : Foggy Nation Scores Victory in Las Flores

Foggy Nation outfinished heavily favored Lovlier Linda Tuesday and won the $64,250 Las Flores Handicap for older fillies and mares before the biggest New Year’s Day crowd at Santa Anita in 36 years.

The attendance of 45,199 was the largest for a New Year’s Day program since 1949, when 49,515 were at the track. The mutuel handle of $6,131,281 Tuesday was the highest ever at the track.

Ridden by Laffit Pincay, Foggy Nation crossed the finish line a neck in front of Lovlier Linda, ridden by Bill Shoemaker. Tangent, ridden by Julio Garcia, finished third, another half-length back.

Covering six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 over a fast track, Foggy Nation defeated four rivals in the sprint test and earned $37,250. The 5-year-old mare, trained by Jack Van Berg, won five races in 11 starts and banked $106,583 in 1984.

Sent off the second choice, Foggy Nation returned $7, $2.60 and $2.40. Lovlier Linda, the 7-10 favorite, returned $2.40 and $2.20, and Tangent paid $2.60 to show.

Carrying 117 pounds, Foggy Nation chased Boo La Boo for the early lead between horses, fell back to third on the far turn before finishing strongly for the victory.

Lovlier Linda, the highweight at 124 pounds, stayed on the outside on the far turn and rallied strongly outside the winner into the stretch but could not get by.