Lilly Fa Pootz rallies to win Osunitas

DEL MAR, Calif. - Lilly Fa Pootz, claimed for $16,000 at Golden Gate Fields last December, won her first stakes in Saturday's $82,500 Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Lilly Fa Pootz ($15.20) rallied wide through the stretch and ran down leader Burg Berg in the final sixteenth, winning by a head. Theodora, a workmate of two-time champion Zenyatta in recent weeks, finished third in the field of nine, a nose behind Burg Berg

Lilly Fa Pootz ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.27.

The style of the win surprised trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer.

"I thought Joe had her back a little far, but she came running on the outside," Hollendorfer said.

Hollendorfer also started the 7-5 favorite, U R All That I Am, who could finish only fifth after racing just behind the leaders to early stretch.

"I thought U R All That I Am was in a perfect spot," Hollendorfer said. "I thought she'd run those horses down, but she didn't fire. Maybe it's a little far for her."

Lilly Fa Pootz, a 5-year-old mare by Gilded Time, is co-owned by Team Green. She has won 8 of 27 starts and $184,492, and has won 4 of 9 starts and $144,870 since being claimed.