Diamond Geezah wins Santa Anita feature

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Diamond Geezah held off Easy Ticket by a nose to give sports talk radio host and co-owner Jim Rome a victory in Thursday's $63,000 Down the Hill Purse at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Diamond Geezah ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:14.05 and paid $10.60, $5.80 and $3.20. Easy Ticket returned $5 and $3.20 in his U.S. debut. Metropolitan Man paid $3.

Diamond Geezah, a 3-year-old Ireland-bred colt, added blinkers for his second U.S. start.

“It's been a long time since I've been in the winner's circle and now that I'm here it feels good,” said Rome, whose Jungle Racing owns the colt with a partner.

Rome had to wait out a photo finish.

“That was one of the greatest things that's happened to me in this business,” he said. “I'm very glad we got that bob.”

The victory, worth $37,800, increased Diamond Geezah's earnings to $72,074 in 10 starts.