Horse Racing Roundup : Balbonella Comes From Last to Win

Balbonella came from last place and fought off the closing challenge of Goodbye Halo to score a head victory Sunday in the $109,300 Dahlia Handicap for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park.

The French-bred filly was last until the final turn in the 1 1/16th mile turf race. Balbonella, ridden by Fernando Toro, gained a clear lead in the stretch and then outlasted Goodbye Halo on the rain-softened course.

Balbonella paid $6.40, $2.80 and $3.20.

Favored Goodbye Halo, making only her second turf start and ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, returned $2.80 and $2.40. Pen Bal Lady, with Russell Baze aboard, paid $3.80.

Balbonella earned $64,300 plus a Breeders’ Cup award of $10,800 for owner Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.

Pay the Butler, an American horse ridden by Chris McCarron, ran neck-and-neck with Japan’s Tamamo Cross before surging ahead in the final furlong to win the Japan Cup at Tokyo by a half length.

Pay the Butler, a 4-year-old colt, covered the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) in 2:25.5 and earned $1,033,000.

Favorite Scarlet Ibis gained a convincing victory in the $200,000 New York Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct in New York.

Jacinto Vasquez rode Scarlet Ibis over the mile in stakes-record time of 1:36 1-5 for a 5 3/4-length victory over Zee Best, ridden by William Fox.