Fault helps Franco enjoy California

ARCADIA, Calif. - A filly starting in California for the first time and a jockey who began riding on this circuit only last year reached milestone wins in Saturday’s Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita.

Fault, who joined trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable last month, rallied on the rail to win the $201,380 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, giving jockey Geovanni Franco his first stakes win in California on a day he won three consecutive races.

Franco, 27, had 14 wins at the meeting through Saturday, leaving him eighth in the standings at the winter-spring session.

“It means a lot,” Franco said. “I’m thankful for the trainers for letting me work with them.”

Previously, Franco was among the leading riders at Canterbury Park, Oaklawn Park, and Turf Paradise in recent years. He began riding in California last summer and won two races in the first 10 days at Del Mar last July before he was sidelined by a knee injury.

Franco resumed riding in early November at Del Mar. Franco was winless at the Del Mar autumn meeting and had six wins at the Los Alamitos December meeting. Earlier at this meeting, Franco had six wins from late December through January, and eight winners this month through Saturday.

“The knee is coming around,” Franco said Sunday. “That was a setback. It was slow in the beginning to break into Santa Anita.

“I want to keep this going. Every day, I’m working.”

A 27-year-old native of Mexico, Franco worked Fault in advance of the Buena Vista Stakes.

“I’ve been watching him ride and I’ve been impressed with his grass rides,” D’Amato said. “He gets it. He saves ground and gets a lot of run out horses. I thought it was time to give him a chance.”

Fault was previously trained in the Midwest by Michelle Lovell. A 4-year-old filly by Blame, Fault won the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington Park last August and was later third in the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park last September.

Fault was an unlucky fourth in her final start for Lovell, in the minor Pago Hop Stakes at a mile on turf at Fair Grounds on Dec. 30. She raced in traffic on the turn and was beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

“I knew she was very consistent and getting better back East,” D’Amato said. “I think she’ll get better.”

Fault has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $318,795. She is owned by Agave Racing Stable and the Little Red Feather Racing partnership.

D’Amato said on Sunday that he plans to run Fault in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes, a $200,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares March 18.