ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2012)—Always a Chance left no doubt as to who was best in Thursday’s nine-horse Morro Bay Purse, taking the $28,000 starter allowance by 4 ¼ lengths as the 9-5 favorite and providing leading rider Joe Talamo with his third win on the day at Santa Anita.

A 3-year-old California-bred filly by Redatorre, Always a Chance had been idle since running a close third at the same distance and condition on Aug. 22 at Del Mar, came from off the pace under Talamo, getting the one mile on turf in 1:35.09, while sitting mid-pack behind fractions of 22.80, 46.22, 1:10.75 and 1:23.11.

“She relaxed better today,” said the 23-year-old Talamo. “And she likes the turf. We had a perfect trip. We saved ground on both turns and when I angled her out at the quarter pole, she gave me everything she had.”

Trained by Sean McCarthy and owned by Harris Farms, Inc. and Johnson, Always a Chance was also bred by Harris Farms.

Always a Chance paid $5.60, $3.80 and $2.80.

“This is what we were hoping for,” said McCarthy. “She worked a good half mile here earlier in the week and she’s the kind that telegraphs how she’s doing. Off this race today, we’ll look at a Cal-bred allowance next time.”

Primal Desire and Martin Pedroza finished second at 12-1, 1 ¼ lengths in front of third-place finisher Toluca, and paid $11.00 and $6.60.

Toluca, off at 7-1 with Tyler Baze, paid $4.80 to show.

Talamo went on to win the nightcap with even money favorite Disarm, to notch his fourth win of the day and his 20th of the meet—four clear of Rafael Bejarano.

First post time on Friday at Santa Anita is at 1 p.m.