Loving Lynda gives D'Amato fourth straight Melair Stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Loving Lynda handled her stakes debut and first start around two turns without difficultly, winning Sunday’s $200,000 Melair Stakes at Santa Anita in a mild upset.

Ridden by Geovanni Franco, Loving Lynda ($15) overcame a wide trip to catch even-money favorite Spiced Perfection in the final strides of the race at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old California-bred fillies. The Melair Stakes was Loving Lynda’s first start since winning a maiden race against older fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on April 28.

Loving Lynda won the Melair by a half-length in 1:44.94.

“We thought she could stretch out,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “She has the constitution to do it, very smart and efficient.”

D’Amato has won the last four runnings of the Melair.

Loving Lynda won despite racing wide throughout. She was four wide on the first turn when racing in the middle of the field of seven and was three wide on the second turn. Loving Lynda was third with a furlong to go and did not take the lead until deep stretch.

“It was a brilliant ride by Geovanni,” D’Amato said. “He gave ground away and got the job done.”

Spiced Perfection finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of One Fast Broad, a two-time stakes winner in 2017. Pulpit Rider, the winner of the Campanile Stakes for Cal-bred 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf, finished fourth and was followed by Coco Kisses, Mo See Cal, and Inland Empire.

Loving Lynda was bred by Jim Robbins and is owned by him and his son Darren. By Empire Way, Loving Lynda has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $153,200. She was second in her debut in a maiden race for Cal-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs on April 1.

The win gave Franco a stakes double on Sunday. In the fifth race, Franco rode Causeforcommotion ($12.60) to a victory in the Possibly Perfect Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

Loving Lynda’s win came hours after D’Amato announced that Fault, the leading older female in his stable, likely faces retirement after suffering a hind-leg injury during a morning gallop. Fault won three graded stakes this year, including the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational on March 17.

“We’ve seen the highs and the lows today,” D’Amato said.