NEWS
Saucey Evening closes strongly to win at Santa Anita
Posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:25 PM
SAUCEY EVENING
Benoit & Associates photo
Saucey Evening completed a last-to-first rally to take the $125,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes for two-year-old fillies on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
The More Than Ready filly covered seven furlongs in 1:21.84 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface to win by 2 1/2 lengths as the even-money favorite.
Trained by Graham Motion for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, Saucey Evening was reserved at the back of the seven-horse field by jockey Garrett Gomez, more than nine lengths behind pacesetter Ten Churros.
Trainer Bob Baffert’s Ten Churros, winner of the Generous Portion Stakes on August 27 at Del Mar, set speedy fractions of :22.72, :44.76, and 1:09.08 through six furlongs.
Saucey Evening, who entered off a fourth-place finish in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, surged into striking distance approaching the stretch.
Gomez then maneuvered Saucey Evening to the far outside, and she roped in her rivals and drew off to her second stakes win.
“She’s just getting better and better,” Gomez said. “She’s settling much better now. She’s really advanced off of her race here in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Ten Churros faded to third, 1 1/2 lengths behind runner-up Spanish Ice.
Saucey Evening, winner of the California Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes on October 5 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, improved to three wins in six starts and boosted her earnings to $250,390.
Bred in California by Betty Mabee and Larry Mabee, Saucey Evening is out of the unraced General Meeting mare Jeweled Lady, a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner General Challenge.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
