Imperial Star, Davis Win the Las Cienegas Handicap

Imperial Star, a 5-year-old mare ridden by Robbie Davis, outsprinted nine rivals to win the $84,200 Las Cienegas Handicap Sunday in front of a crowd of 29,743 at Santa Anita.

Just a head back in second was Down Again, ridden by Chris McCarron, while Serve n’ Volley, with Martin Pedroza up, was another half-length behind in third.

Time for the distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs down a hillside turf course labeled “good” was 1:15 3/5.

Imperial Star, bred in Great Britain and trained by Bobby Frankel, paid $19.20, $7.20 and $5.80. Down Again returned $3.80 and $3.20, and Serve n’ Volley paid $5.20.

The winner, making only her second start in the United States, earned $50,450 for owner Bob Trussell, Jr.

Chris McCarron will serve a five-day suspension beginning Wednesday as the result of an incident at Santa Anita Saturday that resulted in the disqualification of one of his mounts.

The infraction occurred when Book Collector, McCarron’s horse in the eighth race, interfered with Jo’s Joy during the stretch drive. Book Collector went on to cross the finish line first, but jockey Henry Garcia had to check Jo’s Joy to avoid a spill and she ended up sixth in the seven-horse field.

After reviewing videotapes of the race, the Board of Stewards disqualified Book Collector to sixth, moving the second- through sixth-place finishers up one place each.