Palos Verdes

Ronald C. Waranch's homebred SAINT AFLEET (Northern Afleet) took a short lead

in midstretch and held off a stubborn Hombre Rapido (Falstaff) to the wire in

winning the $150,000

Palos Verdes H. (G2) at Santa Anita on Sunday. The

four-year-old broke sharply out of the gate under Pat Valenzuela and sat second behind pacesetter

Stone Rain (Grindstone) through splits of :21 1/5 and :44, prior to putting in

his stretch run. The bay colt completed the six fast furlongs in 1:09 for

trainer Jeff Mullins, and gave back $17.20, $8.40 and $5 at 7-1.

Hombre Rapido was just outside the winner for the length of the stretch but

could never get past, settling for the place three-quarters-of-a-length back.

The eight-year-old was good for $6.80 and $4.80 while completing the $51.50

exacta ($1) at 6-1. Bluesthestandard (American Standard) moved into contention

in the lane but could not corral the top pair, finishing third and rounding out

the $442.40 trifecta ($1). Show paid $6.40 for the 10-1 shot. Late-running Taste

of Paradise (Conquistador Cielo) closed to be fourth and sat on the bottom of the

$2,300.80 superfecta ($1) (4-8-7-6) at 7-1.  Perfect Moon (Malibu Moon) was next and followed by

Stone Rain, Woke Up Dreamin (Holy Bull) and 8-5 choice McCann's Mojave (Memo

[Chi]).

Saint Afleet earned his first graded tally in this one, and moved his career

line to 9-5-0-0 with earnings of $317,571. The colt captured the 2004 Sunshine

Millions Dash.

Bred in the Sunshine State, the winner was produced from the unraced Saintly

Silk (Saint Ballado) and has a once-raced three-year-old full-sister named A

Quiet Beauty.