Madame Stripes © Benoit Photo

Kent Desormeaux displayed the skills that brought him Hall of Fame recognition Friday as he guided Argentine-bred Madame Stripes to a game victory in the featured $82,775 Osunitas Stakes for older fillies and mares.

Saving ground while advancing nearing the stretch, Desormeaux steered Madame Stripes between horses for a clear stretch path and the five-year-old mare responded generously to outfinish a stubborn Corps de Ballet to win by a half-length in 1:42.01 for the mile and one-sixteenth over the Del Mar’s infield grass course.

Mrs McDougal, the 4-5 favorite in the field of ten runners, finished well to be third, a length and one-half farther back. Longshot Laseen was fourth. Withdrawn from the original field were Motown Lady, Belvoir Bay, Dreamarcher, Bellamentary and Kenriya.

Madame Stripes, owned by Gainesway Stable and trained by another member of racing’s Hall of Fame, Neil Drysdale, went postward the 4-1 second choice and paid $10.20, $5.20 and $3 after her third win in a dozen starts. First money of $48,630 increased her earnings to $190,073.

Corps de Ballet, off at 8-1 under Corey Nakatani, paid $9.40 and $4.60, while Mrs McDougal returned $2.40 to show.

Madame Stripes provided Desormeaux with his third winner on the program. He also won the second and third races aboard Cleanup Hitter ($4.60) and Meadowsweet ($19.20), respectively.

Talented 19-year-old apprentice jockey Evin Roman won his first races of the new summer season, scoring a triple with Texas Wedge ($10) in the fourth, Blameitonthelaw ($10.60) in the sixth and Smokem ($25.80) in the ninth. Rafael Bejarano was the third rider to win races Friday, as he doubled.

There were no perfect tickets in the Pick Six Friday. Thus, Saturday’s ten-race program will have a carryover of $68,650. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.