Santa Anita: Capital Plan collects first stakes win in Santa Barbara

ARCADIA, Calif.- Distance racing on turf has developed into Capital Plan’s specialty since she joined trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s stable last summer.

Back in October, Capital Plan won her first start for Hollendorfer and co-owner Mark DeDomenico in an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita. Four races and six months later, she returned to that course and distance in Saturday’s $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap.

The outcome gave Capital Plan her first stakes win.

“Maybe a mile and a quarter or farther is her kind of race,” Hollendorfer said in the winner’s circle.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Capital Plan had an ideal trip in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara, stalking pacesetter Glowing Spirit for the first mile and storming clear in early stretch before winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

Capital Plan ($13.20) ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:01.78, holding off a late bid from Cambina, who was last in the field of seven fillies and mares entering the stretch.

Hard Seven finished third. Vamo a Galupiar, the 2-1 favorite, was well-placed to early stretch but faded to finish sixth.

Hollendorfer bought Capital Plan privately at Del Mar last summer. She won 2 of her first 5 starts for him and DeDomenico before the Santa Barbara. Earlier this year, Capital Plan finished fifth in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies, her stakes debut. She followed with second-place finishes in allowance races at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita before Saturday’s breakthrough win.

Blanc said that Capital Plan was an easy to filly to ride through the Santa Barbara, and was not overeager while stalking the pace. Glowing Spirit led by as many as five lengths on the backstretch, with Capital Plan her closest pursuer at that point.

“I worked her the other morning and she didn’t seem like she’d have trouble settling,” Blanc said. “I had a beautiful trip. When I asked her, she responded for me.”

A 4-year-old filly by Rock Hard Ten, Capital Plan has won 4 of 10 starts and $215,800. Hollendorfer said Capital Plan will be pointed for the $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 3/8 miles on turf at Belmont Park on May 26.