El Conejo

Bob and Beverly Lewis' WITH DISTINCTION (Storm Cat) had to survive a sloppy

track, photo finish and an objection, but succeeded in winning his first stakes

race when capturing the

$112,100 El Conejo

H. (G3) at Santa Anita on Monday.

The five-year-old rated just off the pace, stalking between horses through the early going as Slew's

Prince (Slew's Royalty) sped through opening fractions of :21, :43 3/5 and

:56. With Distinction entered the straightaway

three deep, having eaten away at Slew's Prince's advantage, and prevailed gamely

at the wire by a head, coming out on top in a blanket finish with Jungle Prince

(Sir Cat) and Jet West (Western Fame), completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02 2/5 under Javier

Santiago. Kent Desormeaux, the rider of Jet West, filed an objection, claiming

that Santiago hit Desormeaux's mount in the head with his whip in the stretch,

but the claim was disallowed and the final result was upheld.

"This is a great way to start off the New Year," commented Santiago. "Boy

it's wet out there."

The winner returned $11, $6.60 and $3.60 for his efforts at 9-2, leading $1

exotics of $20.10 (exacta) and $60.90 (trifecta). Jungle Prince paid $5 and

$2.80 for the place as the 3-1 favorite, while Jet West gave back $3.20 a nose

back in third. Slew's Prince rounded out the $1 superfecta (11-2-12-10) which

paid $1,109.20. Gray Black N White (Quiet American), Red Warrior (Benchmark),

Scotty's Ladd (Red), Stone Rain (Grindstone), Fusaichi Rock Star (Wild Wonder)

and Excess Summer (In Excess [Ire]) completed the order of finish. Mighty Beau

(Rainbow Prospect), Moon Mission (Apollo) and Shadow of Illinois (Illinois

Storm) were scratched from the contest.

"I was concerned about the way the speed was holding today, but I told Javier

to just try and give him a chance to win at the top of the stretch," said trainer D.

Wayne Lukas.

Bred in the Bluegrass State by William S. Farish Jr., the dark bay is out of the

unraced Alydar mare Extravagant Woman. With Distinction counts himself a

half-brother to Living Vicariously, winner of the 1993 Brooklyn H. (G2) and 2000

Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) runner-up Resort (Pleasant Colony) as well as an unnamed

two-year-old filly by Dixieland Band.

"This horse has been kind of a blue collar worker," said Lukas. "He's been

consistent. He's maturing mentally, but he's still got some attitude issues. He's getting

better."

With the victory, With Distinction improves his record to 21-6-6-2 with

$320,807

in earnings. This is his second consecutive win and his fifth straight placing.

Earlier this year, the dark bay ran second in the Maryland Breeder's Cup H. (G3)

at Pimlico and came home a close fourth in the Turfway Park Fall Championship S.

(G3) in early October.