Becca Taylor finds first graded stakes triumph in Desert Stormer

ARCADIA, Calif. - Since her debut in December 2020, Becca Taylor has been a brilliantly successful filly for owner and breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi.

It turns out she is blazingly fast, too.

In Saturday’s Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita, Becca Taylor stalked 8-5 Dance to the Music through an opening quarter-mile in 21.95 seconds and took the lead after a half-mile in 43.85 before pulling clear to win her first graded stakes by 2 1/2 lengths.

The half-mile fraction was the fastest split time in Becca Taylor’s career, which consists entirely of sprint races.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Becca Taylor ($3.20) ran six furlongs in 1:09.35 for her fourth stakes win and eighth win in nine starts in the $98,000 Desert Stormer. She earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

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In the Desert Stormer, which drew only four starters, Becca Taylor was in early pursuit of Dance to the Music. Leading rider Hernandez, riding Becca Taylor for the first time, said his mount was an eager filly from the start.

“She showed up today,” Hernandez said. “She broke really sharp. I didn’t want to go to the front. I saw that inside horse had speed.

“She wanted to take off and that’s why we want so fast.”

Dance to the Music, who was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September, held second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of 5-1 Samurai Charm. Dynasty of Her Own finished a well-beaten fourth.

Annie Graham, an allowance class filly owned by Alexander and trained by Miyadi, was withdrawn early Saturday.

Becca Taylor, a 4-year-old filly by Old Topper, has won 8 of 9 starts and earned $379,160. The Desert Stormer was her second stakes win of the year. She won the Spring Fever Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Santa Anita in February.

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