Lemoona gets first stakes win in Possibly Perfect

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lemoona rallied from the back of a small field to win her turf stakes debut in Sunday’s $79,002 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita, a victory likely to dictate her schedule this year.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Lemoona ($10) closed with a rush on the outside to finish a neck in front of 8-1 Mirth, who was always near the pace and ran gamely to the wire to just miss. Pantsonfire, the 9-5 favorite, finished third in the field of seven.

Richard Baltas trains Lemoona and Pantsonfire.

Gutierrez rode Lemoona for the first time in the Possibly Perfect Stakes and had a clear plan.

“The last time she won she made one run, and that’s what Richard wanted me to do,” Gutierrez said. “It was getting close. I knew I got there.”

Lemoona ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:02.18 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

Pulpit Rider, who set the early pace, faded to finish fourth, followed by Lynne’s Legacy, Zaffinah, and Confidentially.

Lemoona, a 4-year-old filly by Lemon Drop Kid, has run in five stakes in her career. Her best finish at that level prior to Sunday was a third in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes on dirt in January. She won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at 1 1/8 miles on turf on April 6 and followed with a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on dirt on April 27.

“We’ve been trying to find out what she wants to do,” Baltas said. “She seems to like the grass.”

Owned by Zayat Stables, Lemoona has won 4 of 13 starts and earned $217,445.