Four year old bay out of Spanish Chai would bring home her second Grade III title of her career for trainer Mo Mentum Farm after struggling in the early part of this season on the grass.

• Desert Stormer Stakes – Grade III Purse $100.000
• Santa Anita Park – For Fillies and Mares three years old and up.
• Six Furlongs – Main track
• May 19th, 2019

While she has struggled to find her spot against Graded company runners, Sunday’s journey over this Santa Anita main track brought back some glory to her and her trainer. While Mo Mentum Farm has been unsuccessful at capturing a Grade I title to his credit, he’s been a mainstay of HRP since 2004 when he purchased a thoroughbred by the name of Fall Aspen in the December auction, then three days late, went on to win in his first ever event. The rest is history.

But now back to British Chai. Her victory in this event makes it her fourth win in eighteen career starts, and rider Van Dyke played a huge part in this win. While she was content on running in a stalking position to pacesetter Smart Queen ( Night Rider Stables ) until the top of the stretch, there was no doubt that she was going to be bringing the gold home at the end of the day.

Placing behind her at the wire as she would close out the event with a final time of 1:09.40, would be Smokey Stover’s Seydoux, who sat three off the pace throughout most of this affair, only to charge late to finish up and complete the $61.800 exacta pay out. She is still in her infancy for this trainer, but should prove her worth in events to come.

Placing third would be Mb Stables Helping People, who in the early going was staying in stride with the eventual winner, but was unable to fend off the late charging Seydoux in the final sixteenth of a mile. While she has finished third in three of her four starts this year, watch for her to make new ground to the top within her next two starts.

Fourth on back would be Machined ( Team 7 Illusions ) , who stepped away from the grass after a dismal try at a Grade II level affair, and is in search of the proper stakes grouping to compete at in the future. Next would be post time favorite and early front runner Smart Queen, who seemed to focus on the early speed to steal this one, but it was just her first start against Graded company. The final finisher was that of Coldpack ( John Henry ), who I personally thought would make a better showing in the race. Has already earned some top level victories last season, just now needs to bring that back to the surface.

Duffer

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES