Making his first start since Oct. 17, Diplomatic Bag was running longer distances in France. His fourth win in six starts was worth $90,000, increasing his career total to $144,019.The second choice in the wagering, he paid $10.20, $5.60 and $4.20. Statement returned $7.40 and $4.60. Seinne's show was $5. The $2 exacta was worth $71.20.(Chart, Equibase)
Juddmonte Farm's Diplomatic Bag, debuting in the United States for trainer Bobby Frankel, captured Saturday's $150,000 Arcadia Handicap (gr. IIT) by three-quarters of a length over Statement on the Santa Anita turf.The Arcadia was the first of three graded stakes races on Saturday's Santa Anita card.A minor stakes winner for Christiane Head-Maarek in France, the 4-year-old bay son of Devil's Bag–Louis d'Or (by Mr. Prospector) rallied under strong hand urging from David Flores in deep stretch to overtake Statement and jockey Javier Santiago. He carried 116 pounds."I thought about taking the lead (early) but I was patient and waited for the last turn," Flores said. "When I started pushing on him he slowly started to pick it up and finished very strong. I was very pleased with the way he ran."Frankel won his fourth Arcadia Handicap.The final time was 1:47 4/5 for the 1 1/8-mile grass test. Chilean-bred Seinne, in his first outing in more than a year, closed to get third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Ballingarry was fourth, followed by 8-5 favorite Soud, Gigli and Researched. Toccet scratched.Soud set the early pace for Tyler Baze, clicking off splits of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 3/5, dueling with Statement until mid-stretch and tiring late.