Keeper Ofthe Stars survives inquiry in Autumn Miss Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Keeper Ofthe Stars closed from sixth to win Saturday’s Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita and then withstood an inquiry to preserve the win.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Keeper Ofthe Stars reached the front in the final furlong, but drifted out, causing four runners to alter course. Keeper Ofthe Stars finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 29-1 Giza Goddess, who set the pace.

Mucho Unusual (6-1) closed through traffic to finish third, beaten two lengths.

Cedillo said he was concerned about the inquiry but did what he could to keep Keeper Ofthe Stars from committing a foul.

“She’s still green,” Cedillo said. “She got intimidated. As soon as she got to the front, she came out a little, but I corrected her right away.

“She won pretty easy, though.”

Keeper Ofthe Stars ran a mile on turf in 1:32.70 and returned $12.20. She received a Beyer Speed Figure of 87 for the effort.

Hidden Message, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Raymundos Secret, Strike At Dawn, Great Sister Diane, K P Slickem, Holly Hundy, Free My Soul, Solent, and Alittlelesstalk.

Hidden Message, Strike At Dawn, K P Slickem and Holly Hundy were affected when Keeper Ofthe Stars drifted to the outside. Hidden Message finished a neck behind Mucho Unusual for third.

Keeper Ofthe Stars, by Midnight Lute, races for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trainer Jonathan Wong. Keeper Ofthe Stars has won 5 of 10 starts and $204,800.

The $102,457 Autumn Miss Stakes was her third appearance in a stakes. At the Del Mar summer meeting, Keeper Ofthe Stars was fourth in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on turf on July 20 and fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 17.