INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 14, 2008) - Irish-bred favorite Wake Up Maggie gained the lead along the rail nearing the quarter pole and easily held pacesetter Heathersdaddysbaby at bay through the stretch to win Wednesday's $67,870 Long Beach Stakes by 1¼ lengths under jockey Joseph Talamo at Hollywood Park.
Wake Up Maggie, third while making her North American debut last month in the Las Cienegas Handicap, covered one mile on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:35.14 while paying $4.60, $2.80 and $2.40.
Heathersdaddysbaby, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, returned $4.60 and $3.40. The show payoff on I Can See with Jon Court up was $2.60.
Wake Up Maggie, trained by Julio Canani, won four of 15 starts in Europe. The winner's share of $39,780 boosted the 5-year-old mare's earnings to $532,524.
Talamo and Joel Rosario each rode two winners on the card, while trainer Vladimir Cerin combined with owners Holly and David Wilson for a pair of victories.
