Hollywood: Puxa Saco still perfect

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Whether in Florida or California, at Calder, Santa Anita and now Hollywood Park, Puxa Saco has been perfect in sprints. She ran her sprint record to 4-for-4 on Saturday, rallying to capture the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes.

As she had done in her three previous sprints, Puxa Saco settled just off the early pace, then unleashed a determined rally. She collared pacesetting Watching You midway through the seven-furlong race, and drew away to win by two lengths.

Watching You, making only the second start of her career, finished 5 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Atlantic Ocean.

Puxa Saco was timed in 1:21.84 on the fast main track, and she paid $3.60 as the odds-on favorite.

Watching You leaped quickest from the gate and covered the opening quarter-mile in 22.24 seconds. Puxa Saco, who had been fourth on the rail, found room inside and moved quickly to engage Watching You with three furlongs remaining. Puxa Saco was just in front after a half-mile in 45.20 seconds and six furlongs in 1:09.19 before pulling away under jockey Mike Smith.

"I thought she ran tremendous," said Jenine Sahadi, who has trained Puxa Saco to her last two victories. "She's so determined. She's got something in her that makes her want to fight."

Puxa Saco, a 2-year-old filly by Dehere owned by Richard Rowan, has now won four times in five starts. Puxa Saco's only career defeat came in her third start, in the Brave Raj Stakes at Calder. That was the only time she tried two turns. Because of that, Sahadi was apprehensive about running her in the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 14.

Asked if she thought Puxa Saco was best as a late-running sprinter at this point, Sahadi said, "Right now that's what I think."

"She's just a baby. She's still learning," Sahadi added.