Lady Claypoole ($25.40) goes last to first in Santa Ana
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Lady Claypoole was last of seven for the first seven furlongs of the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday, a position that was just fine with jockey Tiago Pereira.
Pereira rode Lady Claypoole to wins in consecutive allowance races at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 25 and Feb. 9 and knew what the 5-year-old mare could do from off the pace.
With Pereira’s guidance, Lady Claypoole delivered another such rally in the $101,000 Santa Ana Stakes, winning her stakes debut in her 19th start.
Pereira described the win as “beautiful.” Lady Claypoole ($25.40) was timed in 2:01.40 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
Lady Claypoole raced six or seven lengths behind pacesetter Omaha Girl through a fair pace of 23.75 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.70 for a half-mile. Racing off the rail on the backstretch, Lady Claypoole was closer to the front at the end of the backstretch.
Lady Claypoole was four-wide on the turn and closing rapidly. She led narrowly with a furlong remaining and won by 2 1/2 lengths over 3-1 Mrs. Astor.
Pereira said he respected the chances of Mrs. Astor, the winner of consecutive Grade 3 stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita in November and December. When Lady Claypoole passed Mrs. Astor on the turn, Pereira began to envision a win.
“I had confidence in my filly,” Pereira said. “She responded. I waited for the three-eighths pole. She flew.”
Mrs. Astor was beaten for the second time in her last five starts. Jockey Umberto Rispoli, aboard for the first time, rued that he did not urge Mrs. Astor into a more prominent position on the turn.
“Before the three-eighths pole, I should have been on the move,” Rispoli said. “It was a bad choice and I take the blame. She has no turn of foot.”
Starry Heavens (9-1) finished third in her American debut, and was followed by Mahina, Kathrynmarissa, Big Hug and Omaha Girl.
Kathrynmarissa was the 1-2 favorite for her first start since a second in the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. She led briefly in early stretch before fading to finish 4 1/2 lengths behind Lady Claypoole.
Lady Claypoole, an Irish-bred by Starspangledbanner, has won 4 of 19 starts and earned $227,428. The win on Jan. 25 ended a seven-race losing streak since a win in a maiden race at a mile on turf last March.
Lady Claypoole was imported from Britain in summer 2023. She races for the Abbondanza Racing partnership and Omar Aldabbagh and trainer Richard Baltas.
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