Shake Six Scores Upset at Los Al

Shake Six, a 4-year-old gelding, closed impressively in the stretch to catch defending champion Baychaino and win the Calyx Invitational Handicap Friday night at the Orange County Racing Fair at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The victory spoiled the return of Griswold, the world record-holder at 870 yards, who hadn’t raced since April.

Shake Six, who is trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden by Eddie Garcia, ran the 870 yards in 44.73 seconds. He returned $22.80, $6.60 and $3.

“I knew this was the toughest test for him, but we felt confident he’d run well,” said owner Brian Stripsky of Hawthorne. “We were hoping to beat Griswold and last year’s 870 champion (Baychaino).”

Baychaino, the 1990 champion distance horse, was ridden by Carlos Aguilar and paid $8 and $3.20. Griswold paid $2.40 to show. Speedy Lunch and the filly Wingson Maria completed the five-horse field.

Griswold lost for the first time in an 870-yard race at Los Alamitos. Last winter, he won two stakes and an allowance race in three starts. In Friday’s race, he broke with the field but fell back steadily and finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Shake Six.

“He needed the race,” Griswold’s trainer, Dan Francisco, said. “When he’s had a long layoff, he starts a little slow. Plus, I wasn’t happy with the weights.”

Griswold carried 126 pounds, the most of his life, and five pounds more than Shake Six.