Musical Rhapsody catches Duvet Day, wins Santa Barbara by nose

ARCADIA, Calif. - Musical Rhapsody displayed her quick rally, and a little more at a the right time, to edge Duvet Day in an exciting running of Saturday’s $101,000 Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Musical Rhapsody ($4) rallied three-wide on the turn to reach contention on the turn of the Santa Barbara at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Sent off favored, Musical Rhapsody caught stretch leader Duvet Day in the final furlong and was fully extended to hold off a persistent rally by Duvet Day to prevail by a nose.

Smith expected Musical Rhapsody to rally in the stretch, but questioned the timing of his winning move after leaving the winner’s circle.

“She’s got that burst, but she does that and then she thinks she’s done her job,” Smith said.

“It might have been a little too soon for her. She tried to wait.

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“If I had to do it again, I’d stay behind them. She got her head down at the right time.”

Duvet Day closed from last of seven to lead in early stretch. Despite the loss, Duvet Day impressed jockey Juan Hernandez.

“She brought her game today,” Hernandez said. “Sometimes, in past races, she’s a little lazy.

“I had a beautiful trip and at the quarter-pole I made my run. For a moment, I thought I got there. When that other filly passed me, I tried to come back, but we needed a little more.”

Vincero Grande, who was last on the turn, closed well to finish third at 8-1, 2 1/2 lengths behind 5-2 Duvet Day. Comanche Country, Illhaveanotherkiss, Customer List and Milagre Del Sol completed the order of finish.

Musical Rhapsody was timed in 2:26.77 and earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Santa Barbara Stakes was the first career stakes win for Musical Rhapsody, a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Holy Roman Emperor. Owned by Michael House, Musical Rhapsody has won 5 of 17 starts and earned $166,097, racing in Ireland and California.

Musical Rhapsody has won 2 of 7 starts since joining trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable last spring. Musical Rhapsody won for the first time in the United States in an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on April 4.

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