The Aer Stables four year old bay filly used the experience she gained from her efforts in last seasons BC Distaff finish here at SA, and took that to the winners enclosures with a brilliant late push down the lane to walk away with a length victory.
- La Canada Stakes ( Gr. II ) – Purse $200.000
- Santa Anita Park – For Fillies & Mares Four Years Old and Up
- One Mile and a Sixteenth in Distance- Main Track
- January 11th, 2020
It still amazes me that a horse who can finish as well as she did in last seasons BC Distaff placing just a length out, be once again let go at 14-1 odds come post time. I know her backers who cashed $116.900 show tickets from the Distaff efforts were more then pleased with these odds on Saturday, but when will she start to earn the respect she most definitely deserves. As for her trainer Aer Stables, she is number two behind the stellar now sophomore Brittle from this barn on his most active list and this is just the start of the season. Aer Stables has already three runners sitting in the top ten in points for this seasons Derby, as Laffin Hero just added his name with his victory last weekend in the Gr. III Sham Stakes, his first effort for this trainer. Respect is not free, it is earned and my hats off to this trainer and his abilities. For jockey Talamo, this was his second victory of the season after six runner-up efforts in other events.
Placing runner-up coming off her victory in the Gr. III Chilukki last November would be Estero Farms Spicy Poke. Sent out early and then held in check in a stalking position off the early pace setter Viking Vania who charged up to grab the lead hitting the start of the backstretch. By the time she hit the top of the stretch, she would get on her proper lead and take the front away from Viking Vania. Her stretch run effort would only be drowned out at the sixteenth pole by the eventual winner.
Rounding out the trifecta was Axeman’s recent claim Eye Test who was coming to this affair off a victory in the Gr. III Comely. Fanned widest of all off the turn for home, the grey four year old took to the middle of the track to put in her late push, but the front two runners still had enough in reserves to hold off her efforts. Definitely watch for her in nine furlong or longer affairs in the future as she definitely needs that longer distance to put in her winning efforts.
While trying to make the front running style work to her benefit, Viking Vania would not be able to keep the speed necessary to stay on top, and would find herself capturing the minor share of the purse money. Going off as the post time favorite and having Bejarano in the irons for the third straight affair probably was the reason for backers heading her way.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | ||
| 5 | Totally Baroque | Aer Stables | Talamo J | 14.35 | 11 | 1:41.54 | — | ||
| 3 | Spicy Poke | Estero Farms | Van Dyke D | 4.25 | 21/2 | 1:41.89 | — | ||
| 6 | Eye Test | Axeman | Fuentes Ru | 11.75 | 31/2 | 1:41.99 | — | ||
| 8 | Viking Vania | Delta Farms | Bejarano R | 2.60 | 43/4 | 1:42.09 | — | ||
| 9 | Stellar Wind | Simmer Down Stable | Arroyo N Jr | 7.05 | 51/4 | 1:42.24 | — | ||
| 1 | Happy Thoughts | Rampage Stable | Rosario J | 15.30 | 61 | 1:42.33 | — | ||
| 7 | Cover Girl | Aml Racing | Franco G | 16.90 | 73/4 | 1:42.71 | — | ||
| 2 | Chicken On A Chain | Mb Stables | Espinoza V | 3.55 | 81 | 1:42.89 | — | ||
| 4 | Ancient Royalty | Paradise Stable | Baze T C | 8.15 | 9 | 1:43.12 | — |
Track: Fast
Time: :233 :471 1:104 1:412
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 5 – Totally Baroque | 30.70 | 14.40 | 9.60 |
| 3 – Spicy Poke | 6.10 | 4.00 | |
| 6 – Eye Test | 7.00 |
$1 Exacta: 5 – 3 Paid 63.60
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 3 – 6 Paid 1,422.80
Scratched: None
Duffer
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
