Fault rolls to Santa Margarita victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – Opportunity knocked. Fault answered.

When Unique Bella was declared out of the Grade 1, $401,725 Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, a number of horsemen who were going to pass the race suddenly were emboldened to take a shot in the richest dirt race of the meet for older females. Fault, who has spent most of her career on turf and also was entered on grass in the Santa Ana Stakes on Sunday, was entered in the Santa Margarita, and after her connections – including trainer Phil D’Amato – looked over the field, they made the decision Friday to go for the Grade 1 prize.

They made the right call. Fault ($9) didn’t crack. She rolled to a 6 1/2-length victory over the former claimer Mended to enrich her current owners both in immediate prize money and in residual value. Fault, a daughter of Blame, is now 2 for 2 since being moved to D’Amato’s barn, and her versatility makes her a prominent adversary on whichever surface she races, as long as she stays away from the likes of Unique Bella and Abel Tasman.

The win was also noteworthy for jockey Geovanni Franco, who got the first Grade 1 victory of his career.

Fault and Franco had teamed to win the Grade 2 Buena Vista last month on turf in her first start since being transferred to D’Amato by co-owners Agave Racing Stable and Little Red Feather Racing. She drew the outside post in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Margarita, and though she had to remain wide throughout, she was in the clear, and kickback was not an issue.

Fault was seventh in the 10-horse field midway through the race, but she began a sustained rally heading into the far turn, took the lead soon after entering the lane, and drew away. She completed nine furlongs on the fast main track in 1:50.58, getting a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mended, a former claimer who won 10 straight last year while moving up the class ladder, finished second in a graded stakes for the second straight time. She finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Mopotism, who had beaten Mended by a head in the Grade 2 La Canada two months ago.

La Force was fourth and was followed, in order, by Majestic Heat, Turkish Tabby, Dalsaros, Eccentric Spinster, Mistressofthenight, and Bishop’s Pond.

Fault, 4, has now won 5 times in 15 starts. The $240,000 she earned on Saturday brought her career bankroll to $558,795.