Much Better, who lost three consecutive stakes from October to early January, won for the second time in his careeer in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option going 6 1-2 furlongs in Saturday's eighth race.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Much Better ($2.80) disputed the early pace and pulled clear to win by 3 1-2 lengths over 9-1 Principe Carlo, a former maiden claimer.

Much Better, a ridgling by Pioneerof The Nile, races for Three Chimneys Farm and trainer Bob Baffert. Bought for $600,000 as a weanling in 2016, Much Better was second in the Zuma Beach Stakes on turf last October, last of 14 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs last November and third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile here on Jan. 5.

Much Better led by 2 1-2 lengths in the Sham Stakes but faded to finish 1 3-4 lengths behind Gunmetal Gray. Much Better raced with blinkers for the first time in the optional claimer.