My Sweet Addiction scores upset in Vanity Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – A year ago, My Sweet Addiction’s career was in turmoil. She had difficulty negotiating the turn of the minor Desert Stormer Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita, finishing a well-beaten third as a heavy favorite.

On Saturday, My Sweet Addiction was in perfect form and scored a milestone victory against a heavy favorite.

My Sweet Addiction ($11.20) led throughout the $294,000 Vanity Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita, finishing a length in front of 7-1 Gas Total. Warren’s Veneda, the 1-9 favorite who had won three consecutive stakes in the first three months of the year, was third after contending for the lead in early stretch.

Warren’s Veneda finished a length and a head behind My Sweet Addiction, a defeat that left trainer Craig Lewis at a loss for explanation after a post-race chat with jockey Tyler Baze.

“He said she didn’t have it today,” Lewis said. “They all get beat, and she got beat.”

My Sweet Addiction, ridden by Mike Smith, won the first stakes of her career in the Grade 1 Vanity, her second start in a graded stakes. In January, My Sweet Addiction was last of six in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. She fought for the lead in that race and faded in early stretch.

In her next two starts, My Sweet Addiction was third and first in optional claimers at a mile and 1 1/16 miles in February and March, giving trainer Marty Jones confidence to try the Vanity Stakes.

“She had trouble with the turns for a while,” Jones said in the winner’s circle. “We got her stretched out, and we were able to put a few long races together.”

Smith had My Sweet Addiction in front from the start, racing off the rail and leading by at least a length through fractions of 23.98 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.75 seconds for a half-mile. Baze guided Warren’s Veneda into contention on the turn and led for a few strides near the quarter pole.

In early stretch, Warren’s Veneda seemed poised to take control of the race, but she was unable to keep the lead.

“They went way too slow,” Baze said. “The winner just had a lot left.”

My Sweet Addiction pulled away late, while Gas Total caught Warren’s Veneda in the final stride. Legacy was last of four in a race that lost two-time champion Beholder to illness on Thursday.

Warren’s Veneda was the dominant older female of the winter-spring meeting here this year, winning three races, including the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March.

My Sweet Addiction ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.73.

“Mike rode a great race and had her in a great spot,” Jones said. “Everything went well for us.”

My Sweet Addiction, a 5-year-old by Tiznow, races for breeder Pam Ziebarth. My Sweet Addiction has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $328,106.

My Sweet Addiction is out of Healthy Addiction, who started twice in the Vanity Stakes, finishing sixth in 2005 and second in 2006 when the race was run at Hollywood Park.