Trainer Juan Avila said he felt it was just a matter of finding the right distance before California Frolic finally returned to the winner’s circle after an absence of more than two years.

That right distance came up Sunday in the 1½-mile Presious Passion Stakes at Monmouth Park, and California Frolic proved his conditioner to be prescient.

Able to sit third throughout plodding fractions for jockey Samuel Marin, California Frolic ran down the pace-setting Sports Editor late to score a one-length victory in the $100,000 feature.

It marked the first win for the 5-year-old son of California Chrome since he captured the Not Surprising Stakes at Gulfstream Park on July 30, 2022 and ended a 14-race losing streak. It was his third stakes win overall.

The final time for the 12 furlongs over a turf course listed as firm was 2:32.28.

“I have been waiting for more distance for him. He needs more distance,” said Avila, who took over the training responsibilities for California Frolic three races ago. “You never find a race at a mile and a half so we had to wait for the right spot with him.

“I felt he was ready to have a good race. He has been running a mile and a sixteenth lately and that’s not good for him. We finally found this race for him.”

California Frolic paid $10 to win in the field of seven 3-year-olds and up in the longest race of the Monmouth Park meet.

“I was confident,” said Marin. “You’re not going to believe me but I was smiling on my horse because of where I was.”

Sports Editor, with Paco Lopez aboard, set fractions of :25.37, :51.67, 1:17.08 and 1:43.39 for the opening mile.

It Can Be Done was tracking him in second with California Frolic mostly in a stalking third spot throughout.

Marin moved California Frolic three-wide coming out of the final turn and collared Sports Editor late before going on to the win.

Favorite Highland Chief, a Grade 1 winner, was a non-threatening third, 3½ lengths behind Sports Editor.

Owned by Julian J. DeMora, Jr., California Frolic posted his fifth career win from 22 starts.

The Monmouth Park meet comes to an end with live racing next Saturday and Sunday. First race post time both days is 12:50 p.m.

Admission and parking are free.