Daddysruby hands owner first Grade 1 victory in La Brea

Regardless of the outcome of the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita on Tuesday, the presence of Daddysruby in the $302,000 race for 3-year-old fillies was a milestone for Montana-based owner and breeder Steve Reger.

“That was the first time I’ve been” in a Grade 1, Reger said.

The race produced the most thrilling stretch run of the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting with Daddysruby leading throughout the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies to win by the slimmest of noses over Big Pond.

“I swore we lost,” Reger said on Thursday. “It was one of those head bob deals.”

Daddysruby had her nose in front at the most pivotal of strides to win her stakes debut. By Frac Daddy, Daddysruby has won 5 of 6 starts and earned $352,014.

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Reger, who races as Jethorse LLC, owns 50 percent of Daddysruby in partnership with Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel. They bought an interest in the filly after her debut in win in a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields last January when Daddysruby was trained by Tim McCanna.

“She won her first race so easily,” Reger said. “They made me an offer. It was an opportunity to get to the bigger track. I sold them half and kept half.”

Daddysruby was transferred to trainer Peter Miller.

Reger, 71, is in the oil business. He still owns Daddyruby’s dam, YoutheprizeandI. He said the mare is currently not carrying a foal, and will be sent to Ontario to be bred to Frac Daddy in 2024.

Daddysruby will be considered for the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on Feb. 3, Miller said on Thursday.

“She seems to like some spacing between her races, six to eight weeks,” Miller said.

Daddysruby won an allowance race for sprinters at Santa Anita in March and an allowance race at a mile on turf at Del Mar in August for Miller. The filly’s only loss was a fourth-place finish in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in September.

She followed with a smart victory by 5 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita on Oct. 27, her last start before the La Brea.

“Her only loss wasn’t because of the distance,” Miller said. “She was never on the bridle. It was an off day for her.

“She’s probably better on the dirt and maybe better sprinting.”

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