Elysea's World takes advantage in Santa Ana Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Elysea’s World, bought for $500,000 at Keeneland last November, won for the first time in her California career in Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita.

Elysea’s World had her second start since the auction in the $100,702 Santa Ana. A 6-year-old mare, Elysea’s World was sixth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 23 in her first start for owners Abbondanza Racing, Christopher Dunn, and Jerry McClanahan and trainer Richard Baltas.

The Santa Ana was run at 1 1/4 miles, and the longer distance seemed to suit Elysea’s World, who was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke. Elysea’s World closed from sixth in a field of seven to win by a half-length over 5-2 Zaffinah.

“I had a nice pace to chase and was biding my time,” Van Dyke said. “It looked like it would set up perfectly.”

India Mantuana set an early pace of 23.96 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.01 for a half-mile before fading from contention. Stradella Road led on the turn, but could not keep pace, allowing Zaffinah to take the lead in the stretch.

Sent off as the favorite, Elysea’s World ($6.20) was third with a furlong remaining and finished in 1:59.24. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

The Santa Ana was Zaffinah’s best result in a stakes.

“I was happy with the race,” trainer Jack Carava said. “She tried to come back and ran hard.”

Lynne’s Legacy, claimed for $40,000 in November, finished third, followed by Streak of Luck, Stradella Road, Poster Girl, and India Mantuana.

Elysea’s World won three Grade 3 races in Florida and New Jersey in 2018 when trained by Chad Brown. Elysea’s World has won 7 of 24 starts and earned $626,573.

“It seems like she has a lot of class to her,” Van Dyke said.

The Santa Ana was nearly Van Dyke’s second stakes win of the day. He finished second on 4-5 favorite Catapult in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf earlier on the program, losing by the narrowest of noses to 9-1 Ohio.