Jolie Olimpica stalks and pounces in Monrovia Stakes

A change in race tactics led to a familiar result for Jolie Olimpica in Monday’s Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita.

Instead of taking an early lead, Jolie Olimpica stalked pacesetter Stealthediamonds to the final sixteenth before reaching the front. Jolie Olimpica held off a late threat from Oleksandra to win her second graded stakes for turf sprinters this year.

Jolie Olimpica ($3.80) was a heavy favorite in the $201,000 Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares. Winning jockey Mike Smith rode with confidence. Smith kept Jolie Olimpica in a stalking position through the opening quarter-mile in 21.40 seconds, well behind 8-1 Stealthediamonds, who continued in front through a half-mile in 43.48.

Smith had Jolie Olimpica off the rail in early stretch. Through the final furlong, Jolie Olimpica steadily moved closer to Stealthediamonds, winner of the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint over the same course and distance in January.

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Jolie Olimpica took the lead with yards to spare and won by a half-length over 5-2 Oleksandra. Jolie Olimpica ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.11 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

Jolie Olimpica holds the course record of 1:01, set in her American debut in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes in January.

“She deserves to ridden confidently,” Smith said. “Let her be, and she’ll get the job done.”

Oleksandra, finished a neck in front of Stealthediamonds, who was followed by Into Mystic, Just Grazed Me, Miss Hot Legs, and Surrender Now. Ginger Nut was scratched earlier Monday.

The Monrovia was Oleksandra’s first start since a win in the Grade 3 Franklin County Stakes for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Keeneland last October. Oleksandra was last in the first quarter-mile of the Monrovia and closed well to nearly reach the front.

Jolie Olimpica, a 4-year-old Brazilian-bred mare by Drosselmeyer, has won 5 of 6 starts and earned $271,520. A two-time group stakes winner in Brazil in 2019, Jolie Olimpica was second in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares on Feb. 22, leading to the final furlong before losing by a half-length to Keeper Ofthe Stars.

Jolie Olimpica races for trainer Richard Mandella and Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms. Jolie Olimpica was part of a successful weekend for Mandella, who won Saturday’s Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes with United.