Hollywood Park: Full Ransom rallies late to capture Miesque Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Full Ransom has turned out to be a bargain purchase for Deron Pearson and trainer Jim Cassidy.

Purchased for $25,000 at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training earlier this year, Full Ransom was cheap compared to the big-ticket purchases Pearson and Cassidy have made at sales in California, England, and Ireland in the last few years.

Saturday, Full Ransom delivered a return on that modest investment with a win in the $100,000 Miesque Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“It was the best $25,000 we’ve spent,” Cassidy said.

Full Ransom is by Full Mandate out of the Red Ransom mare Retroesque. The female side of the bloodline caught Cassidy’s attention at the sale.
“I liked her when I saw Red Ransom on the bottom,” Cassidy said in the winner’s circle. “I said, ‘This filly won’t be expensive. Let’s buy her.’ ”

Full Ransom is unbeaten on turf, having won a maiden race over a mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 17. The Grade 3 Miesque Stakes was her stakes debut.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Full Ransom was at the back of the field of six 2-year-old fillies for the first six furlongs. Espinoza brought Full Ransom wide into the stretch and was still fifth with a furlong remaining, about two lengths behind leader Sushi Empire.

Full Ransom took the lead in the final strides and won by a head over Savings Account. Full Ransom ($26.80) was timed in 1:37.51 on a good turf course.

“We didn’t rush her today,” Cassidy said. “She had a good trip wide.”

Sushi Empire finished third, followed by Nesso, Clenor, and Love In the Desert. Clenor, winner of turf stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita earlier this year, was the 4-5 favorite. She was last turning into the stretch and was never a threat in her first start since finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Full Ransom has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $93,300. She was fourth in her career debut at Del Mar in September, a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack synthetic surface.