Associated Press

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Pounced defeated Bridgetown by three-quarters of a length in Saturday's opening Breeders' Cup race at Santa Anita. Jockey Frankie Dettori earned his ninth career BC win and had to steady himself with two hands on the ground after his traditional flying dismount.

Trained by John Gosden, Pounced ran one mile on the turf in 1:35.47 and paid $6.80, $4.80 and $3.20. Bridgetown returned $6.60 and $4.20, while Interactif was another head back in third and paid $3.20 to show as the slight 3-1 wagering favorite.

Awesome Act was fourth in the field of 12.

Pounced is owned by Lady Serena Rothschild, who is married to an heir of Britain's Rothschild banking fortune.

Later in the day, California Flag lived up to his favorite's status by winning the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

The 5-year-old gray gelding defeated Gotta Have Her by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita. It was the first Breeders' Cup win for 20-year-old jockey Joe Talamo and trainer Brian Koriner, who along with California Flag are based in California.

California Flag paid $8.80, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 3-1 favorite, a year after finishing 10th in the same race. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf in 1:11.28, just off his own track record of 1:11.10.

Gotta Have Her returned $8.80 and $5.60, while Cannonball was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $4.80 to show.

Delta Storm was fourth in the field of 14.