Big crowd,
fast times
mark 19th running
of Santa Anita
Derby Day 5K

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ARCADIA, CA (April 6, 2013) - Many in the record crowd of over 6,000 who were gathered in the starting area of 2013 Santa Anita Derby Day 5K took a moment to capture a unique memory in their running careers. They snapped pictures of themselves and their friends in front of the famed race track's iconic starting gate that has launched horses and jockeys, some into legendary status, through decades of the world's finest thoroughbred racing.

Then, it was off to the races, literally, for the runners and walkers of the 19th annual Santa Anita Derby Day 5K.

When the dust settled just over 15 minutes later, Aaron Sharp, a member of Nike Team RunLA and a 2008 qualifier for the United States Olympic Trials, finished on the homestretch with the fastest time in years. Sharp, 33, from Port Hueneme, blistered the scenic 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 3 seconds. It was an average of 4:50 per mile, and Sharp needed the speedy effort to win.

Close on the winner's heels was a 17-year-old local runner from Arcadia. Estevan De La Rosa was the only runner to keep Sharp in his sights and finished a very respectable second in 15:10. In third was another young local Arcadia runner, 16-year-old Josue Gonzalez, who finished in 15:54.

Natalie Miano, 29, a former runner for Cal Poly Pomona, had an easier time in winning the women's title. Miano covered the 5K course in 18:40 to win by 22 seconds. In second place was another young runner. Maily Wong, a 15-year-old from Mission Viejo, ran 19:02 to claim the runner-up spot.

Master's (40 and over) titles went to Jose Ortiz Pina, 50 from Gardena, in 16:50 and Lori Zanteson, 44, on Monrovia in 21:43.

The real winner, however, may have been the event itself. After its start in the starting gate near Gate 3, the one-of-a kind race course ran through the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden and finished on the legendary Santa Anita Race Track. Coupled with ideal running weather, it helped attract another large crowd to Santa Anita, many of whom took advantage of free parking and a race pass to see Goldencents hold off favored Flashback to win the 76th running of the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby later in the afternoon.

""What a great course and beautiful setting to have a race. We will definitely make this an annual event," said Long Beach AREC running club members David and Cindy Kuntz, who ran the race for the first time.

In a fitting tribute to its horse-racing roots, the race's first wave of runners featured many of the country's top jockeys. The crowd of over 6,000 sent them off with a huge round of applause, then ran their race, watched kids race's, and enjoyed music from Kelly's Lot and free beer at the finish area.

It was a great day for a race.