Che Meza, with two local sprint titles under his belt, may have nailed down horse of the meeting honors for the current season Sunday by outlasting six rivals to win the 50th running of the Playfair Mile as Playfair Race Course ended its first winter meeting.

The 7-year-old speedster led from start to finish to beat Santa Anita invader Soapy, the 4-5 favorite, by a head. Just Another Buzz, a 34-1 chance, finished third.

Owned by Connie Davis of Spokane and trained by her husband Fred, Che Meza ran the mile in 1:39-4/5 and paid $12.40. The gray gelding has won eight of 17 starts at Playfair and 16 of 57 for his career, but Sunday’s triumph was his first over a distance of ground.

Veteran Frank Best had the mount on Che Meza. However, Best fell short in his late-season bid for the jockey title.

Marty Wentz, like Best, had two victories and claimed the title with 51. Best and Brian Eide won 48 races each. Lane Rennaker rode 45 winners.

Mike Odom won the training title by saddling 19 winners, three more than Annette Wagar and former champion Tim McCanna.

, DataTimes