Owner Kosta Hronis, center, trainer John Sadler, left, and jockey Victor Espinoza savor Elektrum’s win the Grade II $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes Saturday, August 8, 2015 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. ©Benoit Photo

Irish-bred Elektrum and jockey Victor Espinoza proved narrowly best in an exciting blanket wind-up to the Grade II $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes for older fillies and mares Saturday.

With a sixteenth of a mile to travel in the nine-furlong race over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, it appeared as many as five runners had a chance at first prize. However, Elektrum gamely forged to the front nearing the wire to score by a head over Queen of The Sand. Emotional Kitten was another neck back in third and the same margin in front of fourth-place Fanticola, the 8-5 favorite. Personal Diary, victress in the 2014 Del Mar Oaks, was fifth, beaten less than a length in the eight-horse field. Gusto Dolce was withdrawn from the original line-up.

Elektrum, a four-year-old filly by High Chaparral owned by Hronis Stable and trained by John Sadler, accomplished the distance in 1:48.55 and returned $8.60, $4.40 and $3.60 as the second choice. It was her fourth win in 15 races and first money of $150,000 almost doubled her career earnings to $299,43.

Queen of The Sand, who was piloted by Drayden Van Dyke, paid $8.40 and $4.80, while Emotional Kitten paid $3.80 to show.

The winner is owned by Hronis Racing, which is the nom de course of Kosta and Pete Hronis of Delano, CA.