Doris Mae © Benoit Photo 

Richard Barton’s Doris Mae, given a sweet rail-skimming ride by leading rider Juan Hernandez, took command at the sixteenth pole and went on to win Friday’s featured allowance test at Del Mar by a half length. Final time for the five furlongs on turf was :57.41.

The 3-year-old daughter of Dads Caps was the race favorite at 19-10 and outfooted Hoof Pick Racing Partners’ Smiling Molly late with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Vasco, who had cut out most of the splits, checking in third.

The winner of the California-bred race for fillies and mares earned $43,200 from the gross purse of $73,500 and now has total winnings of $84,000. She broke her maiden on October 28 at Santa Anita after going unplaced in a lone start last year. Her two victories have been under the tutelage of trainer Carla Gaines.

Doris Mae paid $5.80, $4.40 and $3.20. Smiling Molly paid $7.80 and $4.40, while Vasco returned $3.40 to show.

The victory was the eighth of the meet for Hernandez, putting him well ahead of his fellow riders on Day 4 of the 13-day session. He was Del Mar’s champion jockey both this past summer and during last fall’s meet also.

Racing resumes at Del Mar tomorrow with a stakes doubleheader topping the card. First post is at 12:30 p.m.