Natural Colour has easy time with Luther Burbank Handicap

Natural Colour remained unbeaten after three starts in Northern California with a surprisingly easy win in Saturday’s $76,350 Luther Burbank Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa.

Natural Colour ($6.20) finished 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:45.86 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88, but really only ran through the stretch. Ridden by Pedro Terrero, Natural Colour tracked pacesetter Northwest Factor to the top of the stretch before emerging between rivals. Natural Colour rapidly pulled away to win by 4 3/4 lengths.

Terrero had to ride a patient race. Natural Colour was eager on the turn, but lacked racing room until the field reached the stretch.

Freedom Flyer, the 9-5 favorite, finished second, a half-length in front of 8-1 Northwest Factor in the field eight fillies and mares.

Natural Colour, owned by Ron Charles and Samuel Gordon and trained by Manny Badilla, has won 3 of 4 starts since arriving from England last winter. Natural Color won consecutive allowance races at Golden Gate Fields on April 24 and May 28 before she finished a troubled fifth of seven in the Possibly Perfect Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 19.

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On May 28, Natural Colour finished second at Golden Gate Fields, but was promoted to first after a rival was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.

A 4-year-old filly by Exceed and Excel, Natural Colour has won 4 of 13 starts and earned $98,655 in her career. In 2021, Natural Colour was trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing while racing in England.

Natural Colour’s lone win in nine starts in that country last year was an allowance race at a mile at Doncaster last September in a charity race for retired jockeys.