Ran Jan Racing’s Alexis Tangier, a talented half-sister to Moulin de Mougin, recent winner of the John C. Mabee Stakes, returned to grass competition after failing in a trio of main track attempts and was an impressive winner of the featured $77,000 feature for three-year-old fillies Wednesday at Del Mar.
Prominently placed in the early running by jockey Victor Espinoza, Alexis Tangier took charge in the upper stretch and pulled away to win by 2 ½ lengths in 1:35.34 for the mile on the infield turf surface.
Disregarded was second, a half-length in advance of Kukaluka, with Tacit Approval fourth in the field of nine fillies.
Alexis Tangier, a daughter of Tiznow and Cambiocorsa trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, was second and fifth in two maiden races on the dirt at Santa Anita, won her first race when switched to the grass and then, most recently, was fifth on Del Mar’s Polytrack main track July 27.
Favored at 2-1, Alexis Tangier returned $6.80, $4.20 and $3. Disregarded paid $5.40 and $3.80, while Kukaluka returned $3 to show.
Trainer J. Keith Desormeaux teamed with his brother, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, to garner the 500th victory of his conditioning career, winning the sixth race with Texas Red. Breaking his maiden on his third attempt, the son of Afleet Alex paid $8.
Wednesday’s attendance was 9,826.