NEWS
Crisp professional in powerful Santa Ysabel score
Posted: Sunday, January 10, 2010 8:14 PM
CRISP
Benoit & Associates photo
To view a video replay of the Santa Ysabel Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Crisp uncoiled a powerful rally in the stretch to inhale Evening Jewel and Ellafitz en route to a one-length win in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park.
After racing greenly in a maiden special weight victory on December 10 at Hollywood Park, Crisp turned in a professional performance in her stakes debut. She tracked pacesetter Ellafitz from fourth while rating comfortably under Joel Rosario and accelerated into contention on the final turn.
Crisp responded when roused in the stretch and lengthened stride willingly to take charge inside the sixteenth pole for a convincing victory. The El Corredor filly completed the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-old fillies in 1:43.56 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
Trained by John Sadler for owner Michael Talla, Crisp bore out badly on the second turn in her previous start but showed her talent by battling back to win the 1 1/16-mile race under Rafael Bejarano. Rosario had no trouble with Crisp in the Santa Ysabel.
"I watched her run the last time, and she was getting out with Bejarano. I wanted to make sure she was relaxed today and I just wanted to put her where she was going to be comfortable,” Rosario said. “She's a nice little filly and she did everything I wanted her to do. She finished great."
Ellafitz set a leisurely pace through an opening quarter in :24.92 and a half-mile in :49.42. Evening Jewel surged ahead to challenge near the quarter pole and the two fillies battled to the eighth pole, but Crisp overhauled both opponents to improve to two wins and one third in three starts.
"I didn't really give Joel any instructions. I just kind of let him ride his race," said Larry Benavidez, assistant to Sadler. “Down the backside, I said, 'I hope he had the master plan correct,' but she's always [finished well] and she's always shown ability from day one.”
Stakes winner Evening Jewel edged clear of Ellafitz late for second. Zilva finished last of five as the 6-to-5 favorite.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
