Miss Sugars finally gets good trip in Blue Norther
ARCADIA, Calif. - A fortunate trip gave Miss Sugars her first stakes win in Thursday’s $84,225 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita. The filly was due an easy race.
After encountering trouble in stakes in October and November, Miss Sugars was given a confident ride by jockey Tyler Baze in the Blue Norther at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies. Miss Sugars closed from fourth in a field of 10 to win by a head over 15-1 Princess Rio.
Tap It All, a 28-1 shot who led in the stretch, finished third, followed by Journey Home, Cynthiana, Joe’sgoldenholiday, Partyinthepaddock, Mo’vette, La Force, and Simmy’s Temple. Journey Home was the 6-5 favorite.
Miss Sugars ($14.60) was timed in 1:36.24. Baze guided Miss Sugars into contention with a wide rally on the final turn and took the lead in the final strides.
“I wanted to get first jump on everyone else,” Baze said. “She put me in a great spot.”
Miss Sugars, a British-bred filly by Harbour Watch, races for Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal. The filly began her career in England and joined trainer Jeff Mullins in the autumn.
She had eventful journeys in her first two starts in the United States.
Miss Sugars was fifth in the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf here in October after racing in traffic on the final turn and wide into the stretch. In the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 26, Miss Sugars was forced out on the first turn to avoid drain covers that had blown onto the turf course during a rain storm minutes before the race. Miss Sugars finished fourth in the Jimmy Durante Stakes.
Miss Sugars was fitted with blinkers for the first time in the Blue Norther.
“We thought with the blinkers on she’d stay closer on her own,” Mullins said. “She’s had some tough luck.”
Miss Sugars has won 2 of 8 starts and earned $71,985. She began her career with a win in a maiden race at Thirsk Racecourse in northern England in June and was later second or third in four starts in that country before being acquired by her current owners.