Nancy From Nairobi latest to wear the crown

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nancy From Nairobi won her graded stakes debut in Thursday’s Grade 2, $203,105 Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. The win puts her at the top of the female turf division in Southern California, a position that can be considered tenuous at best.

Since Jan. 1, 2015, 17 females have won graded stakes around two turns on turf at Del Mar or Santa Anita. None has won such a race twice.

At the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, which began last December, Gender Agenda won the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes, Keri Belle won the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes, Paulina’s Love won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes, and Tuttipaesi won the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes.

Nancy From Nairobi was an intended starter in the Santa Ana Stakes but was withdrawn because of a case of colic.

“With a good horse, you don’t want to take any chances,” trainer John Sadler said.

The patience was rewarded on Thursday. Ridden by Abel Lezcano, Nancy From Nairobi ($12.20) closed from seventh in a field of 14 to win by a half-length over 9-2 favorite Faufiler, who won a stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. Nancy From Nairobi ran a mile in 1:37.12.

The Royal Heroine Stakes was the featured race on the first day of the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, which runs through July 10.

The result was not without a touch of suspense. Jockey Tyler Baze, who rode fifth-place finisher Her Emmynency, lodged an objection against Lezcano on Nancy From Nairobi. Baze contended that Nancy From Nairobi interfered with Her Emmynency when she drifted out in early stretch. The stewards reviewed the incident for six minutes before leaving the result unchanged.

Kosta Hronis, who owns Nancy From Nairobi with his brother Pete, watched the film review from a balcony adjacent to the winner’s circle. When the announcement was made that there would be no change, Kosta Hronis gave a quick cheer and headed to the winner’s circle.

Nancy From Nairobi has won 5 of 22 starts and earned $271,456. A 5-year-old British-bred mare by Sixties Icon, Nancy From Nairobi has won three consecutive starts, including optional-claiming races in February and March. In England last year, she won a minor handicap at Newmarket when trained by Mick Channon.

Sadler said Nancy From Nairobi will be pointed for the $300,000 Gamely Stakes, a Grade 1 at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 30. The Gamely Stakes typically draws a shipper or two from Eastern stables, which could produce yet another winner in a competitive division.