Pharma Comes Back After Giving Up Lead

Pharma, the 8-5 favorite, got the job done in the $132,950 Wilshire Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park, though the race didn’t go quite as anyone imagined it would.

Expected to try to win the Grade II on the front end, the 5-year-old Theatrical mare did have the lead early, but surrendered it to 17-10 second choice Matiara on the backside. Jockey Corey Nakatani then maneuvered Pharma to the outside of Matiara and got the best of that one through the stretch to win in 1:40 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Didina, the 19-10 third choice, rallied late to get up and beat Matiara by a neck for the place and she wound up three-quarters of a length behind Pharma.

This was the fourth win in her last five starts for Pharma, who is owned by Allen Paulson and Martin Wygod and trained by Ron Ellis. She has three victories in four tries on the Hollywood Park turf course.

“I got a little nervous on the backside when she relinquished the lead,” Ellis said. “She doesn’t really run like that, but it’s nice to have that option. Most races run on the grass aren’t won on the lead, so it gives her another dimension.”

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Ben Cecil and owner Gary Tanaka, who won the Early Times Dixie with Gold And Steel at Pimlico, also got the top prize in the $100,000 Yerba Buena Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. Fanjica, a 4-1 shot ridden by Dennis Carr, rallied to beat Nimble Mind and six others in the 1 3/8-mile turf race. . . . Cominalittlehot is the 5-2 favorite against seven opponents in the $100,000 Thirty Slews Handicap today at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.