Ippodamia’s Girl confirms fondness for turf in winning Blue Norther

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Mike Puype isn’t going to kid himself about what Ippodamia’s Girl is, and what she isn’t, and he’s perfectly willing to take what’s there.

“She works like crap on the dirt,” Puype said in the winner’s circle as dusk fell on Sunday at Santa Anita. “We’ll stay with what they give us.”

Fortunately for Puype, owner-breeder George Schwary, and Ippodamia’s Girl, there are enough opportunities at age 2 and beyond on the turf on this circuit, and Ippodamia’s Girl is showing she can make plenty of green on the green. After winning a maiden turf race at Del Mar on Nov. 25, she completed her 2-year-old campaign by capturing the $85,320 Blue Norther Stakes on Sunday in the final race of 2017 at Santa Anita.

“She’s won twice on the turf. I think we’ll stay on the grass. She’s got a beautiful stride for grass,” Puype said.

Ippodamia’s Girl ($10.60) got a first-over trip in the one-mile grass race, and after getting the best of Silken Spy in upper stretch, she held safe One Fast Broad to win by a half-length. Silken Spy was third.

Finess Bere, who had a traffic-filled trip, finished fastest of all from last in the field of 11 to be fourth, then came Streak of Luck, X S Gold, Multiplayer, 8-5 favorite Retro, Holy Diver, Deep Breath, and Empress of Lov.

Treasuring, the second choice on the morning line, was scratched Sunday morning. Trainer Simon Callaghan said she had “been off her feed for a couple of days, a little quiet,” and he scratched her out of caution. In addition, Mraseel, who was on the also-eligible list, did not get in.

Ippodamia’s Girl, under Rafael Bejarano, completed one mile on firm turf in 1:35.93.

“She was kind of tough a little bit on the first turn,” Bejarano said. “She broke good, and I was able to get a good position, and at the three-eighths I had a lot of horse. She ran really good. I think she likes me.”

Ippodamia’s Girl is now 2 for 2 under Bejarano after losing her first three starts. She earned $46,980 on Sunday to bring her career earnings to $96,525.

Having a wide draw concerned Puype, “but Raffy did a good job getting over,” Puype said.

“She’s got tactical speed, which is a dangerous weapon,” he said.

Ippodamia’s Girl is by Stormy Atlantic and out of the Peterhof mare Ippodamia. She is a homebred.