Jockey Katie Davis notches first graded stakes win on People Watching in Autumn Miss

People Watching had an ideal trip in Sunday’s Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, closing from fourth to give jockey Katie Davis her first graded stakes win in a race depleted by the withdrawals of the two leading contenders.

Green Carrera, winner of the prestigious Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, was scratched after sustaining a cut on a hock, trainer Leonard Powell said. Somerset West, winner of the Grade 2 Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 5, was withdrawn after drawing the outside post in a field of 11, trainer John Sadler said.

People Watching was the first mount at Santa Anita for the 34-year-old Davis, who through Sunday ranked 12th in the standings at Belmont Park with three wins at the track’s summer-fall meeting.

People Watching ($26.40) was timed in 1:34.10 in the $102,000 Autumn Miss for 3-year-old fillies.

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People Watching, by Twirling Candy, races for Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor. Davis and Proctor discussed race tactics in advance of the Autumn Miss, opting for Davis to ride a patient race.

“I knew there was pace in there,” Davis said. "Tom and I talked about it. He said, ‘Ride your race.’”

People Watching was fourth for the first six furlongs, tracking 44-1 Latte Luv, who was closely followed by 6-1 Goodies. Latte Luv set an early pace of 22.88 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.58 for a half-mile.

“I caught them at the top of the stretch and that’s where I wanted to be,” Davis said.

People Watching took the lead from Goodies with less than a furlong remaining and won by 1 3/4 lengths over 6-1 Ramayana. Brave Deb (8-1) finished third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Cortina d’Amprezzo, who inherited the role of favorite at 9-5 after the major scratches, finished fourth, followed by Goodies, Memorized, La Ville Lumiere, Latte Luv and Full Moon Tonight.

People Watching has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $150,104. Davis rode People Watching twice at Saratoga in allowance races on turf during the summer - a 10th-place finish in a field of 12 on July 25, and a win at 17-1 on Aug. 29.

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