NEWS
Ventura earns clear Santa Monica win
Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 7:02 PM
VENTURA
Benoit & Associates photo
by Mike Curry
Ventura swept past stablemate Jibboom in early stretch and powered free to a one-length score in the $300,000 Santa Monica Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Ventura, winner of the 2008 Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and a finalist for the Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter, opened her five-year-old campaign with a stylish victory as the 3-to-10 favorite for trainer Bobby Frankel.
"I was nervous at that price, and she hadn't been out in a while, but I was satisfied with the way it turned out,” Frankel said. “It worked out perfect. I didn't really train [Ventura] that hard, and you're always a little nervous being away three months.”
The Chester House mare tracked the pace from fourth under Garrett Gomez, effortlessly accelerated into contention on the turn, and steadily reeled in Jibboom when given her cue. Jibboom dug in gamely when challenged but Gomez kept Ventura on task and she shook clear on the outside the win.
"She was traveling beautifully for me. It felt like I had a loaded gun the whole time,” Gomez said. “The only reason I had to get into her a little was that when she makes the lead, she thinks her job is done.”
A homebred of Juddmonte Farms, Ventura completed seven furlongs in 1:21.61 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface to improve to eight wins in 16 career starts. Also a Grade 1 winner on grass, Ventura boosted her earnings to $1,539,315. She is out of stakes-placed winner Estala (GB), by Be My Guest.
Frankel said she will be pointed to the seven-furlong Vinery Madison Stakes (G1) on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland Race Course on April 9. Ventura could return to turf racing later this season, but Frankel said the ultimate goal probably will be an attempt at a repeat win in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Multiple graded stakes winner Jibboom, also a Juddmonte homebred trained by Frankel, finished second as the 4.70-to-1 second choice in the six-horse field. Jibboom was 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher She’s Cheeky.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
