Order and Law scores at big odds (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Claimed out of his last start when beaten by nearly 15 lengths, 37-1 longshot Order and Law rallied to take Friday’s $67,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by a half-length. Trained by Peter Eurton and ridden by Antonio Fresu, who rang up his third winner of the day, the 8-year-old ridgeling got a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:59.82.
With both Calm Sea and Malibu Coast ensuring a fast pace out of the gate, Order and Law settled into a comfortable fourth, about eight lengths off Calm Sea in the run around the Club House turn. Order and Law continued to be fourth while unencumbered past the half-mile pole and was about four lengths off the lead three furlongs from home.
Fresu angled three-deep turning for home and with Order and Law still into the bridle, he asked him for run a furlong out and blew by Calm Sea well inside the sixteenth pole while easily best over a late charging Maltese Falcon.
“Not a bad day,” said Fresu regarding his third winner. “This horse is very one-paced. The way the race was going was actually very good for me. The pace was strong and he settled behind the leader really well. Every time I asked him to pick it up, he did it easily.
“When he hit the front, he kind of got spooked by something but, he is a decent horse and Peter has been doing a great job with him.”
Most recently fifth, beaten 14 ¾ lengths in a one-mile main track optional claimer Dec. 29, Order and Law, at 37-1, was the second biggest price in a field of nine older horses and paid $77.80, $29.80 and $8.20.
Owned by Bran Jam Stable, Order and Law, a Kentucky-bred by Violence out of the Shakespeare mare Poetic Kid, now has five wins from 21 turf starts and is 47-9-6-2 overall. With the winner’s share of $40,200, he increased his earnings to $520,744.
Irish-bred Maltese Falcon, who launched a big rail rally under Frankie Dettori, finished a half-length better than 4-5 favorite Aligato and paid $6.40 and $3.00 while off at 5-1.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Aligato, who was mid-pack early, paid $2.10 to show and finished a nose in front of a tiring Calm Sea.
Fractions on the race were 21.88, 46.05, 1:11.21 and 1:35.59.
Order and Law, the second consecutive 37-1 winner on the nine-race card, likely ensured a Pick Six carryover into Saturday.
First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.
