Om N Joy lands trainer Ordonez first stakes win in Evening Jewel
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Om N Joy gave veteran trainer Aggie Ordonez her first career stakes win in Saturday’s $126,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred fillies at Santa Anita, two hours after Style Cat gave trainer Peter Miller his 84th career stakes win at Santa Anita in the $126,000 Echo Eddie Stakes.
Om No Joy was a popular winner for some bettors. The filly was 7-2 as the field was being loaded and went off as the 2-1 favorite. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Om N Joy rallied from sixth in a field of seven, emerging between rivals as the field entered the stretch.
“They were coming back to me with her in my hand,” Desormeaux said. “When I picked a path, she took off like she would have plowed through it.”
Om N Joy ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.85 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 69.
Sunset Grazen (12-1) was fourth early and finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of 3-1 Hot Girl Walk who led in the stretch.
Going Deep finished fourth, followed by In the Air Tonight, Knightwithlouis, and Big Soiree. America’s Mark, the morning-line favorite, was scratched on Saturday morning as was Gold Currently. Trainer Mike Puype said America’s Mark was “dealing with a problem” and will “have some time off.”
Ordonez previously trained in Northern California and was part of a migration of stables that moved south earlier this year after racing ceased in that part of the state. Ordonez has trained since 2004.
“This is a really big deal,” Ordonez said of the milestone. “This has been in mind for years to compete at this level.”
Om N Joy, by Om, won a maiden race for statebred 3-year-old fillies in her eighth start on March 14. Om N Joy has earned $150,640 for the partnership of Jerry and Connie Baker, Michael Golovko, and Terrence Scanlan. The Bakers bred Om N Joy.
Style Cat rallies to take Echo Eddie
Style Cat closed from fourth to record an attractive win by 2 1/4 lengths in the Echo Eddie.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Style Cat raced wide on the backstretch and turn before reaching the front with more than a furlong remaining. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.88 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 81.
“I let the outside speed go and he really picked it up turning for home,” Hernandez said.
Drop Um (9-2) finished third, 9 1/2 lengths clear of 7-1 R Heisman, also trained by Miller.
I’m a Bad Boy, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Bro Bro, Triple Diamonds and Titanic Thompson.
Style Cat, by Curlin to Mischief, won for the third time in his 11th start in the Echo Eddie Stakes. A gelding, Style Cat has earned $229,990. He races for owners and breeders Kirk and Judy Robison.
Previously, Style Cat was placed in two stakes for statebreds, a second in the I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar last September and a third in the California Cup Derby here in January.
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