Hollywood Park: Teddy’s Promise closes from last to win Time To Leave Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Making her first start since January, Grade 1 winner Teddy’s Promise closed from last in a field of six fillies and mares to win Sunday’s $84,950 Time To Leave Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Teddy’s Promise ($7.80) finished a half-length in front of Rumor, who was a half-length in front of Pink Lollipops. Izzy Rules, the 3-2 favorite, finished fifth after racing near the front for the first half-mile.

Teddy’s Promise broke from the rail and was soon last, as many as 7 1/2 lengths behind Dawnie Macho, who set a quick pace of 21.73 and 44.96 seconds. Racing four wide on the turn, Teddy’s Promise was still fifth with a furlong remaining, but closed well to reach the front in the final sixteenth.

Teddy’s Promise ran five furlongs in 57.41.

A 4-year-old filly by Salt Lake, Teddy’s Promise races for breeders Ted and Judy Nichols and trainer Ron Ellis. Last December, Teddy’s Promise won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, but was fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes against older fillies and mares in January.

The Time To Leave Stakes was Teddy’s Promise’s first start since the Santa Monica. A winner of 6 of 15 starts and $412,818, Teddy’s Promise is expected to make three starts at the current spring-summer meeting, Ellis said.

Ellis said Sunday that the $70,000 Desert Stormer Handicap over six furlongs on June 17 and the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap over seven furlongs on July 14 are goals in coming months.