Keeper Ofthe Stars upsets Jolie Olimpica in Buena Vista Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Keeper Ofthe Stars, a Grade 3 winner in October who had struggled against older fillies and mares in recent starts, closed from fourth to record a surprise win at 36-1 in Saturday’s Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Keeper Ofthe Stars finished a half-length in front of 3-5 favorite Jolie Olimpica, who was beaten for the first time in her career in her fifth start.

The history between the 4-year-old filly and jockey Abel Cedillo played a key role in the win.

Cedillo rode Keeper Ofthe Stars for the sixth time and in her fifth consecutive start in the $202,000 Buena Vista. In a recent workout, Cedillo positioned Keeper Ofthe Stars behind a runner and was impressed with her late rally. Cedillo said he urged trainer Jonathan Wong to try those tactics in the Buena Vista.

“I knew she could run,” Cedillo said. “I told Jonathan, ‘Let’s make a run with her.’ I worked her one time behind a horse and she finished pretty good. He said, ‘Do what you want to do.’”

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Keeper Ofthe Stars was fourth for the first six furlongs, racing as much as six lengths behind pacesetter Jolie Olimpica. In recent losses, Keeper Ofthe Stars was closer to the pace.

Cedillo moved Keeper Ofthe Stars closer to the front with a wide rally in the stretch. She trailed by a length with a furlong remaining, but outran the favorite in the final sixteenth. Keeper Ofthe Stars finished the mile in 1:34.15 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

“We thought she could come from off the pace,” Wong said. “She’s better when she has something to chase.”

Jolie Olimpica, who won the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in her American debut on Jan. 11, finished a half-length in front of Mucho Unusual.

Jolie Olimpica was a Group 1 winner against males in Brazil last June. Trainer Richard Mandella said the Las Cienegas performance may have left Jolie Olimpica vulnerable.

“She might have had a little less in the tank,” he said. “This was her first time around two turns.”

Lady Prancealot finished fourth. Brill, Meal Ticket, Super Patriot, Tiny Tina, and La Sardane completed the order of finish.

Tiny Tina crossed the wire in fifth, but was disqualified and placed eighth after a steward’s inquiry for causing interference to Super Patriot in the stretch.

Carressa, Muchly, and Sold It were scratched earlier on Saturday. Carressa, the winner of the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in her turf debut on Jan. 20, was withdrawn after she was diagnosed “with a little heat in a leg,” trainer John Shirreffs said.

Keeper Ofthe Stars, by Midnight Lute, has won 6 of 14 starts and earned $321,931 for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds. The Buena Vista was the first win in a Grade 2 for Wong, 31.

Last fall, Keeper Ofthe Stars won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies here. More recently, she was sixth as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar in November and sixth in the Megahertz Stakes.