ARCADIA, Calif. -- Simply Majestic, equally at home on dirt or grass, was forced to the utmost to win by a nose Saturday in the $111,100 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita.
The 1 1-8 mile race was transferred from the turf course to the main track because of the rain-softened condition of the grass.
Simply Majestic, ridden by jockey Jerry Bailey, stole a long lead on his seven rivals and had to battle the length of the stretch to hold off the closing challenge of Payant, ridden by Bill Shoemaker.
Dr. Death finished third, a distant 10 lengths behind the leaders.
Simply Majestic was timed in a swift 1:47 2-5 and, as the even-money favorite, returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.60. Payant paid $3.20 and $2.80, while Dr. Death returned $4.60.
It was the fifth stakes victory of the year for Simply Majestic, and the winner's purse of $66,100 boosted his career earnings to $937,745.
The Virginia-bred son of Majestic Light is owned by Theodore Sabarese of Clark, N.J., and 1988 was his top season with earnings of more than $600,000.
