Lippy delivers as favorite in Juan Gonzalez Memorial

The favored Lippy ($4.80), looking good all the way, scored an easy victory in the $66,500 Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

A runner-up in her debut before winning her second start by a length, Lippy broke well Saturday but responded nicely as jockey Irving Orozco got her to settle behind River of Doubt, who had won her maiden here in front-running style on June 16. She sat close to River of Doubt, and there was no doubt that she would reel her in as she was asked to run after passing the quarter pole.

Lippy easily put away the pacesetter and was never seriously challenged in the stretch.

Second choice Accomplishedsister stalked the top pair early and finished nicely to be second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Lippy, who ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.57. River of Doubt finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths behind her stablemate Accomplishedsister. Papaya was fourth.

Quant Savant, a stablemate of the winner who won her debut as the odds-on favorite at Santa Anita on May 4, stumbled badly at the start, fell, and then jumped the inside rail before being vanned off.

Lippy, by Square Eddie, is a Reddam Racing homebred trained by Doug O’Neill. Her victory was worth $40,500, lifting her career earnings to $86,700.