Hollywood Park: Executiveprivilege shows patience in Landaluce Stakes win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Executiveprivilege is an undefeated stakes winner after two starts following her victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Landaluce Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Equally as important, Executiveprivilege is a patient filly.

In the Landaluce Stakes over six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies, Executiveprivilege raced on the inside throughout, waited behind the leaders on the turn, and took control when space developed in the stretch, drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

The win left jockey Rafael Bejarano impressed with her progress this summer.

“I just had to wait,” Bejarano said. “With come-from-behind horses, you have to have a little luck. I think you can do anything with this horse.”

Executiveprivilege ($2.60) was timed in 1:11.49. In deep stretch, she was well clear of Speedinthruthecity, who closed from fourth to finish second. Miss Empire, who won the Cinderella Stakes here June 16, rallied from fourth to finish third in the field of eight.

Executiveprivilege won her debut by 4 1/2 lengths on June 28 after breaking poorly and rushing around a field to take the lead in the final furlong. Trainer Bob Baffert urged Bejarano to give the filly a patient ride in the Landaluce.

“I told Rafael, ‘Don’t put her on the lead and just sit there,’ ” Baffert said. “I told him to keep her geared down and let her finish up.

“When she was bottled up, I think she was in a good spot.”

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Executiveprivilege, by First Samurai, has won $120,000. She was purchased for $650,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in April.

Executiveprivilege has been with Baffert’s stable at Santa Anita. She is bound for Del Mar, where a start in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 8 is a possibility.

“I’ll get her to Del mar and see how she reacts to that racing surface,” Baffert said. “She likes Santa Anita and she likes Hollywood. I think she can take her track with her. She’s pretty special.”