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Burns rallies up fence for La Jolla

Burns (shadow roll) would not be denied after getting through on the rail (Benoit Photos) BURNS (Unusual Heat) darted through a narrow seam along the rail in midstretch and withstood the late run of Lil Bit O' Fun (Langfuhr) in Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla H. (G2) at Del Mar, registering his first stakes victory with a neck decision. Ridden by Pat Valenzuela, the Barry Abrams-trained gelding left the starting gate as the 7-2 third choice among six three-year-old rivals and paid $9.20, $4.20 and $2.80 to his supporters. He toured 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 1/5 on the firm turf course. Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Midnight Interlude (War Chant), the even-money favorite, experienced a troubled trip in traffic entering the stretch and wound up fourth. Bred in California by owners Madeline Auerbach, Sonny Pais and Abrams, Burns rallied for runner-up honors behind the impressive Mr Commons (Artie Schiller) in the opening-day Oceanside S. at Del Mar. That rival is currently sidelined with an injury, but Burns flattered his form in the La Jolla. Burns captured an entry-level allowance/optional claimer at Hollywood Park two starts previously and the improving bay has now earned $245,838 from a 12-4-1-2 line.

"This is a horse that is only going to get better and better," said Abrams, who is recovering from surgery for throat cancer.

"I'm sure this means a lot to Barry," assistant trainer Richard Baltas added. "We broke our maiden for the meeting; we'd been 0-for-24 or something like that. The horses have been running good all the time just not getting home, seems like we've had a lot of seconds."

Thirtyfirststreet (Good Journey) showed the way after the break, leading the field through opening fractions of :24 1/5 and :49 1/5 with Surrey Star (Ire) (Dubawi) tracking in second. Burns was three-to-four lengths back in fourth, racing to the inside of Midnight Interlude down the backstretch. He began to advance approaching the conclusion of the far turn, but had to wait briefly for room to the inside of Thirtyfirststreet after entering the stretch. The pacesetter obliged, drifting slightly off the rail, and Burns accelerated through the small opening to the lead.

"I was down there inside saving and waiting," Valenzuela said. "The horse in front of me (Thirtyfirststreet) was trying to get out on both turns and I knew the rail was going to open up. I just had to be patient and hope it happened at the right time. At the eighth pole I made it through and he fired. He ran huge. And he'll run farther. I have no doubt about that."

Lil Bit o' Fun came flying from last to pose a serious threat in deep stretch, but the winner dug in gamely in the final yards to deny the 8-1 outsider. It was another half-length back to the 10-1 Thirtyfirstreet, who edged Midnight Interlude by a half-length for third.

"No room; no luck. I had lots of horse," jockey Rafael Bejarano said following a tough trip on Midnight Interlude. "If I get out, I win. But I got pushed down inside. I couldn't let him run."

Surrey Star and Fort Hastings (Ire) (Aragorn [Ire]) came next under the wire. Temple's Door (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) was withdrawn.

Out of the winning mare Little Hottie (Afternoon Deelites), Burns is a full brother to Brushburn, who placed in the 2010 Charles Whittingham Memorial (G1); a yearling filly named Inflamed; and a 2011 colt. This is the female family of Grade 1 queen Minstrel's Lassie (The Minstrel) and stakes winner and multiple Grade 2 runner-up Northerly (Northern Dancer).

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