Livingmybestlife scores front-running victory in Seashell Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Livingmybestlife made a successful transition from a sprint to a mile with a front-running win in Wednesday’s $103,750 Seashell Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

Winning jockey Juan Hernandez said he used the large infield television monitor to check on the competition in the stretch. Hernandez had Livingmybestlife in front by two lengths with a furlong remaining. When the field moved closer to the finish, Hernandez saw on the television that 1-2 favorite Moonlight d’Oro was second, but not a threat.

“At the sixteenth pole, I checked on the TV, but the wire was right there,” Hernandez said.

Livingmybestlife ($7.40) was timed in 1:36.53 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

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Trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, Livingmybestlife was helped when Moonlight d’Oro broke slowly in her first start since February. Livingmybestlife set early fractions of 23.16 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.38 for a half-mile, leading by at least 1 1/2 lengths.

Livingmybestlife was never bothered by her four rivals. Moonlight d’Oro stumbled at the start and recovered to be third by the first turn. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Moonlight d’Oro was second on the backstretch, but did not pose a threat to the winner.

“She broke a little slow and bobbled on me,” Prat said. “I thought it was a good race and I think she can improve.”

Clockstrikestwelve (9-1) finished third, followed by Paige Anne and Miss Fia. Lisette was scratched on Wednesday morning.

The Seashell Stakes was restricted to fillies and mares that had not won a stakes worth $60,000 or more at a mile or farther since April 1 in races other than for statebreds.

Livingmybestlife, by the Yes It’s True stallion The Big Beast, is a 3-year-old filly who has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $209,970. She won the $75,000 Lucky Spell Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs on Sept. 24 at Los Alamitos in her stakes debut.