Hollywood Park: Saint Isabelle caps big day for Little Red Feather

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Saint Isabelle won her first stakes in Sunday’s $73,100 Time to Leave Stakes at Hollywood Park, giving the Little Red Feather Racing syndicate its third winner of the day.

Earlier on the nine-race program, Little Red Feather won a $40,000 claimer on turf with Russian River and a $25,000 claimer on the main track with Achak. All three horses are owned in partnerships.

“That was awesome,” said Billy Koch, the founder and managing partner of Little Red Feather. “We should do this all the time. It was a fun, fun day.”

Saint Isabelle ($6.40) ran five furlongs on the synthetic main track in 57.09 seconds, winning by a length over Irish Gypsy, a 3-1 shot. Shakenwithanolive finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares, with Separate Forest finishing sixth as the 2-1 favorite.

Rafael Bejarano rode Saint Isabelle and had the 4-year-old filly, by Saint Liam, well-positioned throughout. Saint Isabelle was fifth for the first three furlongs, racing just behind a group of four horses separated by two lengths. With a wide rally, Saint Isabelle was fourth with a furlong remaining and finished best.

“She’s solid and she’s getting better,” said winning trainer Mike Puype. “Rafael rode a great race. She showed great versatility to sit, wait, and pounce.”

Saint Isabelle has won 4 of 9 starts and $173,580. She was second in the Palomares Stakes at Fairplex Park last September in her stakes debut. Sunday’s race was her second start of 2011, preceded by a win in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on March 19.