Air Force Red © Benoit Photo

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners or Golightly’s Air Force Red benefitted from a nifty front-running ride from Del Mar’s top jockey Juan Hernandez Thursday and pulled away from six rivals in the stretch to take down honors in the day’s allowance feature.

The winner, who is conditioned by Frenchman Leonard Powell, finished up one length to the good in the mile and one-sixteenth turf test, running the distance in 1:41.31. As the race favorite, he returned $6.80 for each $2 wagered on him.

Finishing second in the grass affair was Red Baron’s Barn or Rancho Temescal’s Packs a Wahlop, who had three-quarters of a length on Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit.

“Red,” who was winning his sixth race in his 20th start, earned a first prize of $48,600 from the gross purse of $82,000 and pushed his career earnings to $488,574. He’s a 6-year-old ridgling by the War Front stallion Air Force Blue.

Racing continues at Del Mar Friday with first post scheduled for 3 p.m.