Pussycat Doll made a winning return in the Santa Monica (Benoit Photo)

Mike Pegram's homebred PUSSYCAT DOLL (Real Quiet) showed little rust from a lengthy layoff when dominating the $250,000 Santa Monica H. (G1) at Santa Anita on Sunday. The Bob Baffert trainee was alert from the start and rated slightly off the pace early before delivering a knockout blow in the stretch, pulling clear to a four-length tally under Garrett Gomez. The 121-pound highweight, who was spotting up to eight pounds to her rivals, finished seven furlongs in 1:22 1/5 on the fast track and paid $4.20, $3.20 and $3 as the even-money choice.

The race was hotly contested from the outset, with Maryfield (Elusive Quality), Indian Flare (Cherokee Run), Secret Scheme (Precocity) and Win McCool (Giant's Causeway) separated by less than a length through an opening quarter-mile in :22 and a half-mile in :44. By the time the quartet had worn each other down, Pussycat Doll emerged as a fresh and unstoppable challenger that proved to be too good for this bunch.

Nossa Cancao (Brz) (Fast Gold) capitalized on the contested pace to close from well back and finish off the $37 exacta ($1) at 37-1. Place was good for $22.20 and $11.20. Secret Scheme led briefly in the lane and held off a stubborn Maryfield by three-quarters of a length to gain the Grade 1-placing, paying $7.40 for the show at 13-1. The trifecta was worth $430.70 ($1), while the 8-6-4-1 superfecta returned $2,692.80 ($1). Squallacious (Summer Squall) was another length back and trailed by Mazella (Mazel Trick), Political Web (Petionville), Win McCool, 7-2 second choice Indian Flare and Gins Majesty (Go For Gin).