Mongolian Shopper surprises in Wishing Well Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mongolian Shopper won a $50,000 claimer in her California debut last month at Santa Anita. In her stakes debut Saturday, Mongolian Shopper was the surprise winner of the $73,435 Wishing Well Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

Ridden by Stewart Elliott, Mongolian Shopper ($48.20) was the longest shot in a field of eight and won by a half-length over 13-1 Princess Princess. Malibu Stacy (9-1) finished third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Miss Southern Miss finished fourth, followed by Gliding By, Algorhythmic, Anita Partner, and Samba Inc.

The Wishing Well Stakes was restricted to fillies and mares who had not won a graded stakes since July 1. Mongolian Shopper was running in $10,000 and $20,000 claiming races at Arlington Park at that time last year.

Samba Inc, the 6-5 favorite, was a disappointing last. In her first start for trainer Bob Baffert and Juddmonte Farms, Samba Inc stalked the pace for the first half-mile and faded from contention in the stretch.

Samba Inc was a Group 1 winner in Argentina last year. This was her American debut.

Mongolian Shopper ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.01 for her seventh win in 23 starts. Mongolian Shopper has earned $187,767.

Elliott had Mongolian Shopper near the front throughout, stalking pacesetter Algorhythmic through early fractions of 22.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.63 for a half-mile. Mongolian Shopper took the lead when the field crossed onto the main turf course.

Owned by Mongolian Stable, Mongolian Shopper is trained by Enebish Ganbat, who is best known for winning the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Mongolian Saturday. Mongolian Shopper, by Any Given Saturday, is unbeaten in three starts on the hillside turf course, including a $50,000 claimer on Jan. 7 and an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option on Feb. 3.

Ganbat has a stable in Southern California for the first time this winter.