Hollywood Park: Teddy's Promise collects seventh stakes win in Playa del Rey

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - On Friday, there was a chance that Teddy’s Promise would be scratched from Sunday’s $100,250 Playa del Rey Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in favor of a sprint stakes at Santa Anita later this month.

After trainer Ron Ellis studied the Playa del Rey, he advised owners Ted and Judy Nichols to leave Teddy’s Promise in the race. The decision led to the seventh career stakes win for Teddy’s Promise.

“It looked like she could control the race,” Ellis said of his thinking. “We were in comfortable shape.”

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Teddy’s Promise ($3.20) was always in command in the Playa del Rey. She led throughout the six-furlong race, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over 8-1 Judy in Disguise. Rumor finished third in the field of six.

Teddy’s Promise was timed in 1:09.66, leading by as many as 3 1/2 lengths on the turn before Judy in Disguise narrowed the margin through the final furlong.

Minds Eyes finished fourth, followed by There Is No Limit and Warren’s Blossom. Sky High Gal and Twitter Pie were scratched on Sunday morning.

Teddy’s Promise, a 5-year-old mare by Salt Lake, has won 11 of 28 starts and earned $882,397.

Ellis said that Teddy’s Promise will make the final start of her career in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs on Jan. 25, a race she won earlier this year.

Teddy’s Promise is scheduled to be bred to Smart Strike in 2014, Ellis said.