Eden's Moon rises to the top in San Clemente turf bow

Eden's Moon scooted through between horses to take command of Sunday's Grade

2, $150,000

San

Clemente at Del Mar and led all the way home in the one-mile grass affair to

score by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Rafael Bejarano. The Bob Baffert-trained

daughter of Malibu Moon was sent off the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.80, $3.40

and $2.80 for stopping the clock on the firm turf in 1:34 1/5.

Eden's Moon was looking for her first win in this spot since taking the Grade

1 Las Virgenes on Santa Anita's dirt track in early March, and got right down to

business under Bejarano when the gates opened. The bay miss settled just off the

rail, with Don'tgetmadalexis to her outside and Oblivion tracking in behind, on

the backstretch through splits of :23 and :47.

Entering the turn, Don'tgetmadalexis attempted to draw even with Eden's Moon

but the Kaleem Shah colorbearer hit another gear and kicked clear in the lane.

Open Water put in a game run down on the rail, but could not catch the winner

while easily holding Indigo River to take second by 1 1/4 lengths. Byrama got

the best of Killer Graces by a head on the wire, while Don'tgetmadalexis and

Oblivion completed the order of finish after Morocco Moon was withdrawn.

Eden's Moon was a one-paced third as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Santa

Anita Oaks next out, and wound up last of 14 in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks

following a rough trip that saw her take up entering the first turn before

bumping with a rival soon after. Given some time to recover from that

experience, the bay lass just missed in the Hollywood Oaks last out but is now

7-3-2-1 having amassed $358,600 in lifetime earnings.

Baffert said after the race that Eden's

Moon will now be pointed for

the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks at nine furlongs on the grass

August 18.

Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, Eden's Moon was a $110,000 RNA at

Fasig-Tipton Florida before selling for $390,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic

Two-Year-Olds in Training. She is out of the winning Giant's Causeway mare

Eden's Causeway, who is herself a daughter of the Northfields mare North of

Eden.