Lightly-raced Easy Grader, out of action since last October, returned to action impressively Thursday, storming from behind under jockey Rafael Bejarano to win Del Mar’s feature race, a five-furlong sprint over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

 

Easy Grader rallied into serious contention on the outside turning into the stretch and proved a length and one-quarter the best at the wire over Silver Mojave, with Zuzu’s Petal third and Star of Munster fourth in the field of eight California-bred fillies and mares.

 

Easy Grader, a three-year-old daughter of Tribal Rule owned by Academic Farms and trained by Eddie Truman, sped the abbreviated distance in :57.27 for her second victory in three starts. After running fourth in her debut at Del Mar in early September, the filly broke her maiden in her next start at Santa Anita.

 

Sent to the gate at 6-1, Easy Grader returned $14, $7 and $4.20. Silver Mojave returned $5.40 and $4, while Zuzu’s Petals paid $8 to show. Bejarano also won Thursday’s fifth aboard favored Rye.

 

Thursday’s attendance was 6,885.

 

Racing resumes Friday with a first post time of 4 p.m.