Baze sends At the Spa through a narrow rail opening to take CTBA Stakes
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At the Spa was outstanding at the beach in Thursday’s $101,500 California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar.
Given a patient ride by Tyler Baze, At the Spa rallied on the rail through the stretch to win by a neck over 7-1 Drizella. Madiha (32-1) closed well on the outside to finish third, a head behind Drizella.
At the Spa ($8.20) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.11 and maintained a perfect record after three races. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 60.
Baze had At the Spa in fourth-place in a field of nine on the backstretch, racing on the inside behind an opening quarter-mile fractions of 21.69 seconds set by Ko Olina. Baze had to wait for running room entering the stretch, and urged At the Spa to the front in the final furlong.
Irish Wahine finished fourth, followed by Carmen Miranda, It’s Simple, Lion’s Lair, Ko Olina, and Gianna’s Wild Cat. It’s Simple, by the Kentucky-based stallion Nyquist, was the 6-5 favorite on the strength of a 5 1-2 length win in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita in June in her only start.
At the Spa, by the Uncle Mo stallion Outwork, races for the partnership of Terry Lovingier, Tom Beckerle, and Saul Carrillo and is trained by Jorge Periban. Lovingier bred At the Spa, who has earned $164,580.
The CTBA Stakes was At the Spa’s first start against statebreds. At Santa Anita earlier this year, At the Spa won her debut in a maiden race against open company at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 7 and her stakes debut in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs on June 20.
At the Spa was the first career stakes win at Del Mar for veteran trainer Periban, 61, and the first at the track for the 38-year-old Baze since India Mantuana won the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap in November 2018.