Burgoo Alley catches Spanish Loveaffair in Autumn Miss
ARCADIA, Calif. - Burgoo Alley ($12.60) caught 5-2 favorite Spanish Loveaffair in the final furlong to win her graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Burgoo Alley closed from fifth in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies to win by a half-length under jockey Umberto Rispoli, whose effort earned quick praise from winning trainer Phil D’Amato.
“He saved all the ground and got through at the right time,” D’Amato said.
Burgoo Alley was timed in 1:34.37, winning for the third time in her ninth start. Burgoo Alley earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
Spanish Loveaffair, winner of the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 29, finished a length in front of 14-1 Javanica, who has been second in four stakes.
Zero Tolerance set the pace and faded to finish fifth, followed by Eddie’s New Dream, Freedom Flyer, Madone, and Ego Trip.
Zero Tolerance ran early fractions of 23 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.57 for a half-mile. She led into the stretch, but was passed by Spanish Loveaffair, who stalked the pace to the stretch.
Burgoo Alley, an Irish-bred by the Giant’s Causeway stallion Footstepsinthesand, races for the partnership of John Rochfort, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano and has earned $170,330.
The $101,500 Autumn Miss Stakes was her second appearance in a stakes, preceded by a third to Zero Tolerance in the Unzip Me Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Oct. 3.
“I thought she fit with these horses,” D’Amato said. “We ran her in the downhill race to keep a recency edge for this race.”