Miesque's Approval finished 4 1/2 lengths ahead of National Park, with Paxtecum fourth. Hot Trotter, Kith, and Red Briar completed the order of finish. Ecstatic was eased and did not finish. Morning-line favorite Stage Call was scratched after trainer Elliott Walden discovered a high white-cell blood count in the colt, who shipped in Wednesday from Florida.Mountain Rage returned $12.80 for the win and led a $1 exacta worth $23.80. (Chart, Equibase)
Mountain Rage edged favored Miesque's Approval by a head to win the $200,000 Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) on a rainy Saturday at Hollywood Park. With the turf course listed as "good" and the temporary rail set at 10 feet, Mountain Rage completed the mile in 1:40.31 under David Flores."Everybody was having problems out there, having to struggle because the track is so soft and soggy," Flores said. "We saved some ground around the second turn and as it turned out, that was the win right there."The 2-year-old Florida-bred son of Mecke trained by Bob Baffert earned $120,000 for the win, his second in five career starts. In his first turf start at Santa Anita in October, Mountain Rage finished second to Yougottawanna in the restricted Pinjara Stakes after breaking his maiden the previous month. Out of Sweet Silver Star, by Silver Buck, Mountain Rage was bred by Brambly Lane Farm.