Southland-Based Fanmore Wins Arlington Handicap

Southland-based Fanmore, the 9-10 favorite, beat longshot Marastani by a neck to win the $250,000 Arlington Handicap on the turf at Arlington International Racecourse on Sunday.

Fanmore, owned by Sheik Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and ridden by Pat Day, was timed in 2:01 3/5 for the 1 1/4 miles. Fanmore had won one of four California starts this year.

“It took him about an eighth of a mile to get going,” said Day, who won the Arlington Handicap in 1992 aboard Sky Classic. “(Marastani) got about a neck in front of us at the 3/16th pole, but my horse had a lot of run left and we won nicely.”

Most of the show money was bet on Star Of Cozzene, who finished fifth, making for some unusual payoffs. Fanmore paid $3.80, $2.80 and $6.40. Marastani returned $4.80 and $18.80 and Split Run paid $20.20.