by Myra Lewyn

Quite a Bride stalked pacesetter Somethinaboutlaura from second, took the lead on the turn, and edged clear for a sharp victory over Nashoba’s Key in the $500,000 San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Quite a Bride was never more than one length behind Somethinaboutlaura, who dawdled through a half-mile in :50.58. Bidding on the outside on the backstretch, Quite a Bride drew within a head of that foe on the second turn and shook clear on the outside under Garrett Gomez. 

Multiple Grade 1 winner Nashoba’s Key, starting for the first time since her fourth-place finish in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park, raced in fourth through six furlongs and advanced to second in early stretch, 1½ lengths behind Quite a Bride. Under urging from Gomez, Quite a Bride held off that challenger and powered to the wire for a 1 ¼-length victory, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.98 on turf rated as good.

“This filly placed herself up close like she always does,” Gomez said of Quite a Bride. “When we went into the far turn, I was expecting Nashoba’s Key to be coming after me, and when I didn’t see her, I thought maybe she got held up in traffic or maybe the soft turf was bothering her. When we got to the top of the stretch, it looked like maybe the field was coming to me. I asked her at that point, and she sprinted clear.”

Runner-up Nashoba’s Key, the 7-to-10 favorite, was 1½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Placid Lake.

Trained by Bill Mott, Quite a Bride won the South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream by 4¾ lengths on January 3 in her previous start. The five-year-old Stormy Atlantic mare won three of six starts last season, all in stakes, including the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (G3) on June 16 at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Carla Gaines said Nashoba’s Key was too far back with the slow pace.

 “She got to the winner right past the wire,” Gaines said.

Florida-bred Quite a Bride, who is out of the Blushing Groom (Fr) mare Wise Bride, has won ten of 18 career starts. The $275,000 winner’s share of the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf purse increased her lifetime bankroll to $878,881 for owner-breeder Haras Santa Maria de Araras.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is daily news editor of Thoroughbred Times