NEWS
Gotta Have Her holds on to
win Palomar Handicap
Posted: Monday, September 06, 2010 8:20 AM
GOTTA HAVE HER TAKES PALOMAR HANDICAP (G2)
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the Palomar Handicap, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Gotta Have Her rebounded from a third-place finish in her previous outing to hold off a late charge from two challengers and win the $150,000 Palomar Handicap (G2) on Monday at Del Mar.
The six-year-old Royal Academy mare won the 1 1/16-mile turf race for the second straight year and bested stakes winner Lilly Fa Pootz, who finished second behind Wasted Tears in the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) on August 15 at the seaside track while Gotta Have Her finished third.
You Lift Me Up assumed command early and took the field through a slow half-mile in :50.04 and six furlongs in 1:13.32 while Gotta Have Her stalked the pace from second under Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Making her bid three wide at the quarter pole, Gotta Have Her took the lead at the top of the stretch and drove gamely through the lane to hold off late bids from stakes winner Go Forth North and Lilly Fa Pootz to cover 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.39 on turf rated as firm.
“I was worried about hitting the front too soon,” Smith said. “You don't want to do that with her. She’ll pull herself up.”
I was worried about [trainer Jerry] Hollendorfer's other mare [Lilly Fa Pootz] coming and getting us. But it worked out fine. I like riding ones like [Gotta Have Her]. This is my kind of race.”
Go Forth North finished gamely to take second, a half-length in front of Lilly Fa Pootz.
Gotta Have Her, who finished second to California Flag in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last November, was winless in her first two starts of the season in the Las Cienegas Handicap (G3) in April at Santa Anita Park and the Gamely Stakes (G1) in May at Hollywood Park.
She then fought back to win the Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (G2) on July 3 at Hollywood prior to her third-place finish behind Wasted Tears and Lilly Fa Pootz in the Mabee.
“It was a weird race,” trainer Jenine Sahadi said. “I was concerned when I saw the 26 [seconds for the first quarter]. I knew they were going slow and she doesn't have a real huge turn of foot. As long as she can just gallop along, she's fine. Mike apologized for getting to the front too soon. I’m really proud of her. She's really special.”
Overall, Gotta Have Her has won ten of 29 starts with seven second- and five third-place finishes and $1,092,608 in earnings for Sahadi and owner Green Lantern Stables.
Bred in Kentucky by Nursery Place and Robert Manfuso, Gotta Have Her is one of two winners from five starters out of the unraced Rahy mare Winnowing, who is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Lady Blessington (Fr).
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Handicapper, Inglewood, CA on September 10, 2010 at 09:04 PM
Gotta Have Her should have won the last time if it not for her unwillingness to go by on the rail, she would have beaten Wasted Tears, anyway glad to see her come back and win, the problem with her is you can't make the lead too soon with her or she start's waiting on horses. Too bad to hear this will be her last year racing.
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Posted by: Sherpa, Charlotte, NC on September 06, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Gotta Have Her has been a favorite and I'm so happy she won today. At the same time, sad that this will be her last year to race; but I guess it's time. She's been a joy. Thanks to all her connections, especially Ms. Sahadi, for the great run!
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