Crisp makes jump from maiden to stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Crisp, making only the third start of her career, made a successful jump from a maiden win to a stakes victory by rallying boldly on Sunday to capture the Grade 3, $100,000 for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Crisp ($9.20) got up in the final yards to beat Evening Jewel by one length, with Ellafitz another length back in third. Zilva, the 6-5 favorite, finished last in the field of five. Whispering Hush was scratched Sunday morning.

John Sadler, who trains Crisp, changed bits on Crisp following her maiden win at Hollywood Park on Dec. 10, when she bore out badly at the top of the stretch and then closed with a rush to prevail. Rafael Bejarano rode her in her first two starts, but chose Zilva on Sunday. Joel Rosario picked up the mount.

"I just let her relax," Rosario said. "She can finish. She's a nice filly."

Michael Tallo owns Crisp, a daughter of El Corredor who was purchased as a yearling for $160,000.

"She's always shown ability from Day One," said Sadler's assistant, Larry Benavidez.