Blue Stripe makes statement with Santa Margarita triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. – More than 30 years have passed since trainer Marcelo Polanco worked with the top-class Argentina mare Bayakoa for trainer Ron McAnally, but Polanco never forgot the lessons he learned dealing with the top South American import.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Polanco unveiled another potential star with a similar background.

Blue Stripe, making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and just her second start in North America, rallied to an upset victory in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes to stamp herself as an instant force in the California female dirt division.

Blue Stripe ($14.80) and jockey Tyler Baze won the Santa Margarita by a length over even-money favorite Miss Bigly. Varda finished more than six lengths back in third.

The Santa Margarita was the first graded stakes win since 2008 for Polanco, who acknowledged Blue Stripe has a ways to go before she can compare to Bayakoa, who won 13 Grade 1 races and more than $2.7 million.

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“I worked with McAnally when he had Bayakoa,” Polanco recalled after the Santa Margarita, adding that Blue Stripe “is not Bayakoa, but she is getting there.”

In fact, Blue Stripe was a Group 1 winner in Argentina before arriving in California last year to prepare for the BC Distaff. Polanco faced challenges with Blue Stripe similar to those McAnally and he faced with Bayakoa.

“Bayakoa, when she got here, she would tie up, and have other issues. This filly (Blue Stripe), the same thing,” Polanco said. “I managed her the same way.”

Blue Stripe, who won 4 of 7 in Argentina, finished seventh in the BC Distaff, after which Polanco and owner Pozo de Luna put her away for winter. Her workouts were strong going into the Santa Margarita, and she ran accordingly.

Baze positioned her fifth behind a strong pace set by second choice Park Avenue, who went a half-mile in 46.41 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.61 before fading in the lane. Park Avenue finished fifth. Baze turned Blue Stripe loose wide into the stretch, and she wore down Miss Bigly to win the 1 1/8-mile race in a modest final time of 1:50.52.

“I didn’t know what kind of gas pedal I had under me until the three-eighths pole,” Baze said. I asked her and she ran up ’em so quick it caught me off guard. I kinda had to tap on the brakes, but even with doing that, when I asked her again, she accelerated and came home.”

Blue Stripe, a 5-year-old mare by Equal Stripes, earned $120,000 to triple her bankroll to $181,882. She has now won 5 of 8 races.