Sahara Sky, A Jealous Woman win Santa Anita stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Sahara Sky came from off the pace to win the $150,000 Sahara Stakes by one length on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Sahara Sky ran six furlongs in 1:07.73 and paid $45.20, $14.40 and $5.

“He ran unbelievable,” Talamo said. “That was actually the closest he’s ever run. I thought he was going to be 10 lengths further back than he was. He broke sharply, he put me right there, and I still had a lot of horse when I called on him.”

Trained and co-owned by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Sahara Sky had been idle since June 22. He hadn’t won since May 19, 2012, at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Private Zone returned $4.40 and $3, while Justin Phillip was another half-length back in third and paid $2.80 to show.

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Sahara Sky’s career earnings to $236,680, with five wins in 13 starts.

In the $75,000 Megahertz Stakes for older fillies and mares, 7-year-old A Jealous Woman held on to win by a neck over Byrony under Brice Blanc.

She ran one mile on the turf in 1:33.09 and paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80 as the lone California-bred in the seven-horse field.

Byrony returned $7 and $3.40, while 9-5 favorite In the Stars paid $3 to show.

The victory, worth $60,600, increased A Jealous Woman’s career earnings to $443,856, with eight wins in 19 starts.