NEWS
Evita Argentina rallies to win San Vicente
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:29 PM
EVITA ARGENTINA
Benoit & Associates photo
by Steve Bailey
As impressive as Evita Argentina was in her debut against males in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) on Monday, jockey Garrett Gomez believes the three-year-old Candy Ride (Arg) filly has even better races in her future.
Evita Argentina charged from the back of the ten-horse field on the turn, was angled out into the middle of the track by Gomez, and drove with determination to score a one-length victory over Leedstheway in the seven-furlong race on the Arcadia, California, track’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
“The track is soggy all over, but at the three-eighths pole it seemed a little deeper and she got off the bridle with me, so I really had to go to work on her to get her to running again,” said Gomez, who also captured the Buena Vista Handicap (G2) in the following race with Jibboom. “She was able to wear them down, but I know she can run even better than that.”
Trainer John Sadler decided to give his talented filly a chance to take on males following a victory over eventual champion two-year-old filly Stardom Bound in last year’s Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and a season-opening runner-up finish to Alpha Kitten in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2).
The move worked to perfection as she covered seven furlongs in 1:24.30.
With the dramatic come-from-behind victory, Evita Argentina became the third filly to win the San Vicente, joining Busher in 1945 and Hubble Bubble in ‘47.
As the field broke, it appeared Evita Argentina might have left any chance of victory at the gate. She raced unhurried in tenth as Wall Street Wonder led the field through a quarter-mile in :23.23 and a half-mile :46.76.
Moving up on the turn, Gomez angled her out four wide as the field hit the stretch. Evita Argentina rallied from the center of the track to power past Leedstheway shortly before the wire.
”I wasn’t too concerned with her being that far back,” said assistant trainer Larry Benavidez, who saddled the filly because Sadler was under the weather. “They ran the mile last race in [1:39], and they were nice horses.
"I was pretty confident, because this filly is going to give you her run no matter what. Garrett cut the corner perfect. It was a great ride by him.”
Leestheway held on to finish second, 1¼ lengths in front of Gato Go Win with Wall Street Wonder and Ventana finishing in a dead heat for fourth.
Benavidez said the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 14 could be next for Evita Argentina, who won for the fourth time in seven starts and boosted her earnings to $324,900.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
