Brave Raj, 9-5 Favorite, Wins at Del Mar

DEL MAR — Favored Brave Raj, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, moved up to bid for the lead going into the stretch and drew clear in the final yards Monday to win the $55,750 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.

Brave Raj finished 1 lengths in front of Breech, ridden by Terry Lipham. Chris McCarron rode Footy to third place, another 2 1/2 lengths back, in the seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Brave Raj, sent off the 9-5 favorite by the crowd of 15,109, was timed in 1:22 3/5 and paid $5.80, $3.80 and $3. Breech paid $6.80 and $4.60; Footy returned $3.60 to show.

Valenzuela rode two other winners--Percentastar in the first race and Tough Envoy in the fifth.