Talco angled off the rail turning for home and outsprinted even-money favorite Midnight Storm to win the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile by a half-length Saturday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, 13-1 shot Talco ran the distance in 1:35.00 and paid $28.40, $6 and $5.20. The France-bred 4-year-old colt was last with a quarter-mile to go before rallying.
''My horse gave me such a big kick off the turn, we were able to challenge him right away and then we outran him to the finish,'' Bejarano said. ''The whole key to winning today was being able to stay inside around the far turn and really kicking well.''
Midnight Storm returned $3 and $3.40 in having his three-race win streak end. Seek Again was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.40 to show after shipping from Saratoga in upstate New York.
The victory, worth $240,000, increased Talco's career earnings to $491,123, with five wins in 15 starts, including three in the U.S. With the win, Talco earned an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
The biggest disappointment in the race was 3-2 second choice Bal a Bali, who finished last.
In the $100,000 Adoration Stakes, two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder won by 1 1/4 lengths under Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
The 5-year-old mare ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.67 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite. She was second early and then took the lead around the far turn.
''I rode her like she was the best mare out there and she was,'' Stevens said. ''She does things so natural.''
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Beholder's career earnings to $3,476,600, with 12 wins in 17 starts, including 10 in 11 races at Santa Anita, where she is based with Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
''I'm relieved and delighted,'' Mandella said.
Warren's Veneda returned $2.40 and $2.10, while My Monet was another 7 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.20 to show.
