Hostess pulls upset in Providencia Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – From tiny Chelsmford City racecourse outside of London to mighty Santa Anita, Hostess has compiled the unlikeliest of winning streaks.

Hostess won her final start in England in a $9,700 allowance race at Chemlsford City last October. Saturday, Hostess won her American debut in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.

Hostess ($53) won the $151,755 Providencia by a nose over 9-2 Maxim Rate, giving trainer Simon Callaghan a sweep of the exacta. Callaghan had a memorable day, having won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks earlier in the afternoon with the brilliant 3-year-old filly Bellafina.

The $1 exacta of Hostess and Maxim Rate paid $145.20.

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Hostess ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.09 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81. For Van Dyke, the win was redemption from a week-old stinker of a photo finish. Van Dyke rode Catapult to a second by the narrowest of noses in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on March 30.

“Luckily, I got the bob this time,” he said.

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Hostess was the third-longest shot in a field of 10 in the Providencia. Van Dyke had Hostess in eighth for the first half-mile and positioned her on the outside turning into the stretch.

Van Dyke found Hostess to be a willing filly when he asked for an effort.

“I gave her a few taps on the shoulder and she jumped into the bridle,” Van Dyke said. “I had to make a decision to go inside or go outside. It was a split [second] decision.”

In the final strides, three fillies were positioned to win. Maxim Rate, a 9-2 chance, finished a nose in front of 5-2 favorite Lady Prancealot. Lakerball finished fourth, followed by Colonial Creed, Truffalino, Miss Flawless, Apache Princess, Ladymidtown, and Killarney Lass.

Killarney Lass set a quick pace of 22.99 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.06 for a half-mile before fading.

Hostess, by the Zafonic stallion Iffraaj, was fifth and second in her first two starts in England in August and September before a convincing win on the all-weather surface at Chelmsford City, which is located northeast of London and typically offers modest racing.

Hostess earned $90,000 for the win in the Providencia Stakes and has career earnings of $97,761.