Let Faith Arise alters tactics in Adoration

ARCADIA, Calif. – Let Faith Arise did not get her anticipated front-running trip Sunday at Santa Anita, and she had to work harder than odds-on favorites normally are required.

None of it mattered; the best horse won the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes. Let Faith Arise ($3) scored an off-the-pace victory under Corey Nakatani in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

“We had to call an audible, because we thought we’d be sitting one-two early,” Nakatani said, “but [Yahilwa and Eblouissante] went pretty quick, so we sat back off them and it worked out.”

Let Faith Arise, who projected as the controlling speed, instead tucked third on the rail. She swung outside for the drive, at which point she was expected to run past pacesetter Yahilwa. Her rival proved tough to down.

Yahilwa battled back, and was only worn down late by Let Faith Arise. The margin was a neck; it was 8 ¾ lengths back to third-place finisher Irish Presence. The order was completed by Warren’s Veneda, Spellbound, Legacy, Scarlet Strike, Champagneandcaviar, and Eblouissante.

Jerry Hollendorfer trains Let Faith Arise, who won the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes two starts back at Santa Anita before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

The win by Let Faith Arise was her sixth from 12 starts, increased her earnings to $470,240, and reestablishes her as one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes on June 14. Her final time of 1:43.41 is likely to earn a Beyer Figure in the mid-90s.

Owned and bred by Tom Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, Let Faith Arise is a 4-year-old filly by Kafwain.