Climate Upsets Ladies Din in Fastest Mile of Santa Anita Meet

It wasn't surprising that a horse in Santa Anita's featured allowance race Friday would run the fastest turf mile yet run during the current meet. It was somewhat surprising which horse pulled off the feat.

Climate, returning from over a year off and the only horse in the field yet to compete in a stakes race, went wire-to-wire as the highest price on the board to defeat Shibboleth by a length. B. Wayne Hughes' son of Cahill Road completed the mile in 1:32.98, a second over Atticus' course record of 1:31 4/5.

Even-money favorite Shibboleth, a full brother of Danehill, finished a nose ahead of Ladies Din while starting for the first time under trainer Bobby Frankel's care. Argentinian group I winner Big Board, Touch of the Blues, and I've Decided completed the order of finish. Stakes winners Thady Quill, Night Patrol, and Casino King were all scratched.

A lightly raced 6-year-old, Climate earned $42,000 for his fourth win in nine career starts. Jonabell Farm bred Climate from the One for All mare Weather Girl. Brice Blanc rode the Ronald Ellis-trained winner, who paid $19.40 for the win and led the $1 exacta worth $30.50. (Chart, Equibase)