Eastlake Avenue beats stablemate

Eastlake Avenue wore down stablemate Glorification in the stretch, edging clear late to win the $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.

Glorification set the pace under Jason Lumpkins in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Eastlake Avenue, coming off a wire-to-wire allowance victory at one mile, began to challenge as the pair approached the quarter pole.

The two were in their own private race, and Eastlake Avenue proved stronger late as Glorification drifted out over the slippery sloppy surface. Eastlake Avenue, ridden by Chad Schvaneveldt, won by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:45.90.

Third-place Black Hills Goldie was 19 lengths behind Glorification with Whims and Fancies another 13 lengths back as three scratches dropped the number of entrants to four.

"The only two speed horses in the race were both mine," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "I hate to have them in together like that.

"It was obvious to me Glorification was faster, and both riders agreed. I told Lumpy to get on the lead and slow things down, and he did a good job. Chad rode just like I wanted him to."

Schvaneveldt said Eastlake Avenue relaxed well and pulled him into contention as he let her so that Glorification didn't have an easy lead.

"When I asked my filly, she gave it to me," he said. "When she switched leads at the eighth pole, she really finished well."

Eastlake Avenue, who won a $7,500 maiden claimer for owner-breeder George Todaro at Emerald Downs last summer, is 3 for 3 since coming to northern California. She earned $55,000 in winning her stakes debut and increased he career earnings to $93,178 with 4 wins in 9 starts.