INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2008) — Favorite Banner Lodge took command shortly after the start and had plenty left in the stretch under jockey Mike Smith as he posted a 1 3/4-length victory in the $42,876 allowance feature Friday at Hollywood Park.

The Kentucky-bred son of Chester House won for the second time in his last three starts while covering six furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:08.37.

Valid Mecke could not overcome a poor start, but he rallied under Rafael Bejarano to prevail by a nose over Candy Pull in a photo for second.

Banner Lodge, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Sadler, paid $5, $2.80 and $2.40. Valid Mecke returned $4.60 and $3.20, while the show payoff on Candy Pull was $2.60.

The victory, worth $24,600, boosted Banner Lodge’s earnings to $122,000. The 4-year-old colt has won three of nine starts.