Burns wins La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Burns held off Lil Bit O'Fun by a neck Saturday in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at Del Mar, snapping a 27-race losing skid for trainer Barry Abrams at the seaside track.

Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, Burns ran 1 1-16 miles on the turf in 1:42.36 and paid $9.20, $4.40 and $2.80.

Lil Bit O'Fun returned $8.80 and $3.80, while Thirtyfirststreet was another half-length back in third and paid $3.80 to show.

Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude, the 11-10 favorite trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, was fourth in the six-horse field.

``No room, no luck,'' said Rafael Bejarano, who rode Midnight Interlude. ``I had lots of horse. If I get out, I win. But I got pushed down inside. I couldn't let him run.''

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Burns' career earnings to $245,838, with four wins in 12 starts. Burns was second in the Oceanside Stakes on opening day at Del Mar last month.

``I was down there inside saving and waiting. The horse in front of me (Thirtyfirststreet) was trying to get out on both turns and I knew the rail was going to open up,'' Valenzuela said. ``I just had to be patient and hope it happened at the right time. At the eighth pole I made it through and he fired. He ran huge.''

Abrams was on hand to saddle the colt while recovering from recent surgery for throat cancer that causes him to speak through a voice-enhancing device.

``I was coming all the way,'' Abrams said about his attendance. ``This horse is only going to get better and better.''