Crystal Ann’s Charge Wins Melair Stakes

Although she has a long way to go to catch her half-brother in terms of victories, Crystal Ann is off to an excellent start.

Related to the stakes-winning Cherry River, who won 33 times during his career, the 3-year-old daughter of Pirate’s Bounty posted an $18.20 surprise Saturday in the $100,000 Melair Stakes.

Ridden by Esteban Gomez for owner Mack Hall and trainer Lyman Rollins, Crystal Ann sat off a quick pace, then drew away in the final furlong to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:17 1/5 for the 6 1/2 furlongs.

Beaten in her only other race in California, Crystal Ann had won five races at Turf Paradise, including one against males.

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After winning a race on the final nine programs at Santa Anita, jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. drew a blank on the opening-night program Friday at Hollywood Park.

Within 102 victories of Bill Shoemaker’s career record of 8,833, Pincay nearly kept the streak alive in the final race but wound up third, beaten two noses on favored Kentucky Bluebird.