ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Lord Nelson won the $55,000 feature by 3 1/2 lengths Friday at Santa Anita, winning after a five-month layoff for trainer Bob Baffert.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Lord Nelson ran six furlongs in 1:07.94 and paid $5, $3.40 and $2.80 as the 3-2 favorite.
Ocho Ocho Ocho returned $5.40 and $3.40, while Raised a Secret was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.80 to show.
Lord Nelson had been off since Dec. 26, when he finished third in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on opening day of the track's winter meeting.
''He's filled out, he's gotten stronger,'' Baffert said. ''This was a tough race. I knew he was ready. He's pretty fit and he's been training well. He really kicked it into another gear turning for home.''
The victory, worth $39,000, increased Lord Nelson's career earnings to $418,271, with four wins in 10 starts.
