GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- Kela won the biggest race of his career Saturday when he drew off to a five and a quarter length win over Supah Blitz in the Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park. It was another length and a half back in third to Yessirgeneralsir.

Snorter, who was the favorite, finished fourth.

Kela ($12.80) raced closer to the pace than usual, stalking Yessirgeneralsir in second, as that one set fractions of 23.32 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.28 seconds for the half-mile mark, and 1:10.15 six furlongs. Kela overtook Yessirgeneralsir in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance over a sloppy track in 1:35.64.

"He finished up super," said David Nuesch, who rode Kela for trainer Mike Mitchell.

Mitchell purchased Kela on behalf of owner Jay Manoogian last fall. The horse was making his third start for his new barn, and after trailing the field early in his last race was much closer to the pace in the Texas Mile.

That was the plan by his connections, but Kela was even closer than expected after Pie N Burger, a front-runner, was forced to check along the rail in a jam up going into the first turn. Pie N Burger ended up trailing the field, while Yessirgeneralsir was up by two lengths by the opening quarter, stalked by Kela.

Kela earned $175,000 for the win, which was his sixth from 19 starts. His earnings now stand at $487,527. Mitchell said plans are to bring Kela back to his Southern California base, then return to Lone Star next month for the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 31.

Kela's other stakes win came in the Tokyo City Handicap. Along with Kela, the Texas Mile was also the biggest career win for Nuesch.