Water Crystals Beats Regal Ties by Half-Length

Longshot Water Crystals closed strongly in the final furlong and won the $45,000 feature race Friday at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting.

Ridden by Fernando Toro, Water Crystals finished a half-length in front of the favorite, Regal Ties, ridden by Alex Solis. Lady De Saron, ridden by Laffit Pincay, was third, another 1 3/4 lengths back.

The winner was clocked in 1:15 for about 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita’s Hillside turf course and paid $22.60, $10 and $7.20. Regal Ties, the 3-1 choice, returned $4.80 and $3.60. Lady De Saron paid $6 to show.

A field of eight, headed by Lord at War, was entered in Sunday’s $100,000-added Goodwood Handicap.

Lord at War, who will be ridden by Bill Shoemaker, was assigned high weight of 125 pounds for the 1 1/8-mile race. The 5-year-old Argentine-bred will be looking for a repeat victory in the event.

Lord at War won in 1:42 last year, when the race was at 1 1/16 miles. It was the first in a string of five straight victories, ending with the Santa Anita Handicap.

Travelling Victor, who will be ridden by Chris Loseth, was assigned second-high weight of 119 pounds, and Somethingwonderful, who will be ridden by Chris McCarron, was given 116.

Others entered were Last Command, Patrick Valenzuela, 115; Poly Test, Laffit Pincay, 114; Don’t Say Halo, Darrel McHargue, 114; Apollo Flight, Rafael Meza, 110, and Matafao, Frank Olivares, 106.