Island of Love surges in final furlong, takes Senorita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Island of Love gave jockey Juan Hernandez his 14th stakes win of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting in Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

Hernandez, riding Island of Love for the first time, guided his mount from third on the turn to take a clear lead in early stretch of the one-mile race. Island of Love ($7.80) pulled clear in the final furlong to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 5-2 Sterling Crest.

Island of Love was the fourth choice in a field of six and was timed in 1:35.35. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

Hernandez gained the mount from Flavien Prat, who left for Keeneland last month. Prat led the Santa Anita standings with 15 stakes wins and 72 overall wins before his departure. After the $100,500 Senorita Stakes, Hernandez had 69 wins at the meeting, three behind Prat.

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Island of Love was second in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes in January in her American debut and fourth in the China Doll Stakes on March 6 in her first two starts this year, with Prat aboard.

In the Senorita, Hernandez had Island of Love in third in the first half-mile, stalking 18-1 Baby Steps, who set early fractions of 23.92 for the opening quarter-mile and 47.77 for a half-mile.

“She broke really nice,” Hernandez said. “I put her in a nice spot and she was comfortable on the outside. When I got to the quarter-pole, the filly was really strong.”

Sterling Crest finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Baby Steps, who was followed by Fuente Ovejuna, Lucky Girl and Delmona. Lucky Girl, the 2-1 favorite, was last early, but did not offer a threat in the stretch.

Owned by R Unicorn Stable and trained by Phil D’Amato, Island of Love, an Irish-bred filly by the Danehill stallion Kodiac, has won 3 of 5 starts and earned 109,755.

Island of Love was unbeaten in two starts in Italy last September, including a minor stakes at six furlongs. Island of Love arrived in the United States last fall.

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