NEWS
Evita Argentina overwhelms field in La Brea
Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009 6:40 PM
EVITA ARGENTINA (5) GOES LAST-TO-FIRST IN LA BREA
Benoit & Associates photo
To view a video replay of the La Brea Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
After sweeping widest of all into the stretch, Evita Argentina powerfully accelerated past ten opponents on Saturday at Santa Anita Park and scored her first top-level win with a last-to-first rally in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1).
Trained by John Sadler for breeders Theodore Aroney’s Halo Farms and Ronald Judy’s Three Sisters Thoroughbreds, the three-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) filly made amends for unplaced finishes in her previous two starts, including her seventh-place finish the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on November 6, with a two-length triumph as the 4.20-to-1 second wagering choice in the La Brea.
“This filly likes to make one run, so I try to just leave her alone early and keep her comfortable,” said winning jockey Joel Rosario, who also guided favorite The Usual Q. T. to victory in the Sir Beaufort Stakes (G3) earlier on the card. “She relaxed so well today that when we came to the five-sixteenths pole, I had a lot of confidence, and I thought I had a good chance to win. As you could see, she ran very well.”
Evita Argentina was slow into stride early then settled off the rail at the back of the field. The race appeared to set up perfectly for her as Kays and Jays and Amazed by Grace dueled through strong fractions of : 22:91 for the opening quarter and :45.19 for a half-mile. Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Gabby’s Golden Gal, the 2.70-to-1 favorite who was returning from a layoff of more than 5 1/2 months, stalked from third.
Stakes winner Amazed by Grace led by a head in early stretch, but was soon collared by San Clemente Handicap (G2) winner Starlarks (Ire), who launched her rally four wide on the turn when roused by Alex Solis.
Evita Argentina raced into contention from six wide entering the stretch and charged through the lane under intermittent left-handed urging and a strong hand ride. The chestnut filly seized command in deep stretch and drove clear.
“She likes it when she can close, when she has pace in front of her,” Sadler said after the seven-furlong race, which was completed in 1:21.78 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface. “Evita got some pace today.”
Starlarks finished a head in front of third-place finisher Amazed by Grace.
Gabby’s Golden Gal, bumped with an opponent in midstretch, was in close quarters late, and had no rally in a seventh-place finish.
Evita Argentina, who is out of the winning Forest Wildcat mare Jealous Wildcat, has won three races, all graded stakes at seven furlongs, from eight starts this season. She captured the San Vicente Stakes (G2) in February at Santa Anita and A Gleam Handicap (G2) in July at Hollywood Park. Overall, she has won six of 13 career starts, including the 2008 Sorrento Stakes (G3) and earned $611,400.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
