Lilo Lil gets first win in Providencia Stakes at 26-1
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Juggling race options led to a start by the maiden Lilo Lil in Sunday’s $101,500 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.
It turned out to be a shrewd move by trainer Michael McCarthy and owner and breeder Charles Fox.
Lilo Lil, the longest shot in a field of eight, led throughout the Providencia Stakes, her first start at 1 1/8 miles. Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Lilo Lil ($54.80) held off threats from several rivals in deep stretch to win by a nose over 7-2 Wild Like the West.
Victorious Dream (11-1) finished third for McCarthy, beaten a head by Wild Like the West.
The Providencia Stakes was chosen for Lilo Lil primarily because of the distance.
“I thought she’d be tough in this,” McCarthy said.
The other option on Sunday was a maiden race at a mile on turf for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. McCarthy had two runners in that race, with a third-place finish by Ulysses Rose his best result.
In the Providencia, Lilo Lil’s chances were aided by the absence of an early challenge. She led through slow fractions of 23.97 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.11 for a half-mile, maintaining a one-length lead.
Lilo Lil led by a half-length over Wild Like the West with a furlong remaining and barely held on to win. Lilo Lil was timed in 1:48.95.
Inbox closed from seventh to finish fourth, followed by Darya, Abigail, Total Val and Tiyara. Darya, the winner of a maiden race on March 21, was the 3-2 favorite. She was beaten approximately a length.
McCarthy also trains Tiyara.
Lilo Lil, by Caravaggio, had her fifth start in the Providencia. Her best result prior to Sunday’s race was a third-place finish in a maiden race at Keeneland last October. The Providencia was her second start of the year, preceded by a fifth-place finish in a maiden race at a mile on March 8.
Sunday’s race was the first time that Lilo Lil set the pace. She earned $60,000 and has amassed $83,238 in earnings.
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