Achiever's Legacy scores longshot win in Desi Arnaz

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jerry Hollendorfer had strength in numbers in the $98,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Del Mar. His highly regarded filly Light the City did not run up to expectations after being pressured from her inside draw, and that pace battle allowed his other trainee, Achiever’s Legacy, to come along in time and win.

Achiever’s Legacy ($21.60) was the longest shot in a field that was reduced to four by the scratch of Xoxo on Sunday morning. Light the City, unbeaten in two prior races, was bet down to the 1-5 favorite.

But Light the City, starting from the inside in the seven-furlong race, was pressured by Maybellene, couldn’t shake her, and eventually finished behind her. Achiever’s Legacy, last early, swooped the field under Drayden Van Dyke and won by 1 1/4 lengths. Maybellene beat Light the City by a neck for second. Into Oblivion trailed.

Achiever’s Legacy completed seven furlongs on Polytrack in 1:23.25, her cause greatly aided by the opening quarter of 22.06 seconds, very fast considering the abbreviated run-up at that distance. The half-mile was run in 45.35.

Hollendorfer said he wasn’t “caught up” in which horse won.

“I’m just trying to win every race I’m in,” he said. “The race just set up for her.”

Achiever’s Legacy had finished second to Maybellene in a one-mile allowance race last time out at Santa Anita. The only prior time she had sprinted was in her debut on turf at Gulfstream Park in June. She won that day, then was purchased privately by a partnership that includes Hollendorfer.

She was winless in three starts since then, but Hollendorfer said he was encouraged by Achiever’s Legacy’s most recent start against Maybellene and thought she had earned a shot in the Arnaz.

“I did or I wouldn’t have put her in,” he said.

This was the first start on a synthetic surface for Achiever’s Legacy. She now has won twice in five starts. Achiever’s Legacy, a daughter of City Zip, earned $60,000 for her victory Sunday.

The Arnaz was known as the Moccasin Stakes when it was run at Hollywood Park, which closed last year.