Balbonella Wins Turf Race for Fillies

Balbonella, a 4-year-old filly accustomed to holding her own against the opposite sex, had a very easy time beating all females in the $112,600 Midwick Handicap on the turf at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting Sunday.

After being last early in the one-mile race, Balbonella circled the field and drew off to win by 2 3/4-quarter lengths over Choritzo, with Davie’s Lamb third. Eddie Delahoussaye rode the filly, who earned $67,600 for her owner, Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai.

She paid $14.40, $8.00 and $6.20 as she made her first California start a winning one before a crowd of 42,637. Choritzo paid $5.60 and $4.20, and the show price was $4.20 on Davie’s Lamb.

Jungle Dawn, the 5-2 favorite, finished 9th.