Ms Wakaya © Benoit Photo

Under a well-judged ride by jockey Rafael Bejarano, Ms Wakaya forged to the front in midstretch and then held on stubbornly to win Del Mar’s feature race Friday, a one-mile contest for California-bred fillies over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Ms Wakaya, a daughter of Flower Alley owned and bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Miyaki, scored by a length and one-quarter over runner-up Speakers, with 2-1 favored Battleground State fading to third in the stretch. Fourth was Mizzen Glory in the field of seven horses.

Ms Wakaya ran the distance in 1:36.60 and returned $10.60, $5.60 and $3.40 after her second win in nine starts. Speakers paid $6.40 and $3.60, while Battleground State returned $2.20 to show.

Bejarano also won Friday’s third race aboard Afleet Ascent for a $7.40 payoff.