Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux won the 5,999th race of his career in North America on Rye ($13.40) in Saturday's $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita.

Rye rallied on the rail in the stretch to finish 2 1-4 lengths in front of 5-2 favorite Ashleyluvssugar in the field of 10. This was the second consecutive year Rye has won the Unusual Heat Turf Classic.

Desormeaux will have a chance for a milestone 6,000th winner in Sunday's first race on X S Gold (9). He has four mounts on the 10-race program.