ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Quick Casablanca won the $100,000 Last Tycoon Stakes by a head on opening night of Santa Anita’s first spring meet Friday.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Quick Casablanca ran 1 1/18 miles on the turf in 1:48.62 and paid $34.60, $18 and $6.80 at 16-1 odds.
It was the 6-year-old Chile-bred’s first race since Nov. 17 at Aqueduct in New York. Quick Casablanca has won Group 1 races in Chile and Argentina. It was his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally after going 0-5 in New York since last May.
Fire With Fire returned $6.20 and $2.20, while Rookie Sensation was another neck back in third and paid $2.10 to show.
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Quick Casablanca’s career earnings to $548,580, with four wins in 17 starts.
The track’s 40-day spring meet running through June 29 is the result of Santa Anita picking up new racing dates after Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood closed in December.
