The Suncoast Stakes (KYO)- $150.000 Purse
TAM- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and Seventy Yards on the Dirt
February 8, 2020

It could not get any better for Mb Stables in the Suncoast Stakes. Not only did he have the winner, he also had the second place and third place horses, completing a rare sweep of those positions. The trainer certainly could sit back and relax as he enjoyed this finish, which was officially won by Latte Lady. This is a horse that had run well at fair and free tracks prior to Mb Stables purchasing her for $50.000, and it’s clear that she just wanted to start running longer. It marks the fourth time that he has won this race, also doing so in 2012 with Shimmering Socialite, in 2015 with Live For Today and in 2017 with Guest Of Honor. Only Guest Of Honor ended up going to the KYO among those three. Congratulations to him, as well as the winning jockey, G Saez. The time of the win was 1:39.88, not as quick as recent years, but all that was needed. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :24.15)- It seems as though the race will begin with both Tiratzo’s Lorena West and Nakamura Stables’ Queen Of Clubs battling for the lead as we approach the first turn. However, that was not to be because all of the sudden Local Glitter, from D J C Racing Stables, was shot out of a cannon moving into the turn, charging hard on the outside as if the race was about to end, and in the blink of an eye, she has a three length lead. Lorena West and Queen Of Clubs do not chase her and run side by side with one another, and some new company on the rail in the form of Amoureux, from Estero Farms. Running a length behind them would be our eventual winner, Mb Stables’ Lattle Lady, who was officially four and a half lengths behind the ambitious pacesetter. To her outside, about a length back is her stablemate, Starship Viking, as well as Zero Twist (John Henry). It’s one more length to Tamalpais (Mb Stables), and another two the trailing Maui Underworld (Lazy Lizard).

(½ Mile- :47.31)- At the front, Local Glitter is still by herself, but it looks like M J Sanchez is trying to get her to settle in now. Lorena West does cut a length into the lead, as she moves about a length ahead of the other two that she had been running with, Queen Of Clubs and Amoureux. Those two are still running fine, and now battling for the third spot. Latte Lady has been moved down a lane for now, with the likely intention to follow Lorena West through. She has both of her stablemates now behind her in pursuit as Tamalpais pulls up to her outside, and Starship Viking another lane over. Zero Twist is a length further back and four wide, and Maui Underworld loses a little more ground to the rest of the field.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Local Glitter is still in good form as she leads them into the turn, and for the duration of it. However, things start to change as they hit the top of the stretch as Lorena West pulls up to her outside, and her overall advantage to the rest of the field had been shrinking. For Lorena West, things were looking good at this point. Meanwhile, Latte Lady, who had been running behind her for a few furlongs now, needs to move over a lane to prepare to make this pass. She’s heads apart now for third with Tamalpais as they one had been advancing on the outside. So was Starship Viking, but not yet with the same power in her stride. Queen Of Clubs had been dropping through the field and Amoureux lacked response. Zero Twist was preparing for a very wide move while Maui Underworld continued to trail.

(Finish- 1:39.88)- In the stretch, Mb Stables certainly had to like that he had both Lattle Lady and Tamalpais running exceptionally well, and Starship Viking soon joining in with them. The main threat to them seemed as though it would be Lorena West, but she was not able to keep advancing, and in fact would never actually pass Local Glitter, who hung on the best she could. At the wire, it would be Lattle Lady, prevailing in a photo over stablemate Starship Viking, who looked very good in the closing moments. Tamalpais hangs on for third over the closing Zero Twist. With a better trip, Zero Twist probably finishes better. Local Glitter takes fifth over Lorena West, and it’s a gap of a few lengths to everyone else. Maui Underworld eventually passes a couple, beating Amoureux and Queen Of Clubs.

About The Winner- Latte Lady, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by G Saez, is a three year old filly by Winter Warrior, and is out of Dangerous Lady. She was bred in California by EasyMoney Stables as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Mb Stables in private sales for $50.000 in November 2019. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in seven starts, and first stake win of any sort. Her career earnings are now $127.440.

Track: Fast
Time: :24   :47¹  1:11   1:39⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 3 Paid 28.70
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 3 – 6 Paid 67.40

Scratched: Uzume

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded