Power Surge ($155.20) surprises in Evening Jewel Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Smuggler’s Run was an easy winner for bettors to find in Saturday’s $150,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Smuggler’s Run paid $4 as the favorite in a field of five.

The opposite was true regarding Power Surge in the $152,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old statebred fillies later in the day. The longest shot in a field of nine, Power Surge ($155.20) held off 8-5 favorite Connie Swingle to win by a head.

Smuggler’s Run and Power Surge are both by the stallion Straight Fire.

Smuggler’s Run closed from third to take the lead in early stretch in the Echo Eddie, which was run at 6 1/2 furlongs. Ridden by Joe Bravo, Smuggler’s Run was a comfortable winner by 2 3/4 lengths over 9-2 Moose Mitchell, who set an early pace of 22.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.91 for a half-mile.

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What in Blazes finished third, followed by Mr. T’s Thirsty and Finneus.

Smuggler’s Run was timed in 1:16.57 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

A gelding, Smuggler’s Run races for owner and breeder Kevin Nish and trainer Richard Baltas. The Echo Eddie was Smuggler’s Run's first stakes win and third victory in five starts. Smuggler’s Run has earned $190,400.

Smuggler’s Run won his debut on dirt on Jan. 1 and raced on turf in his next three starts.

“Coming from grass, I didn’t know whether he would handle the surface, and he handled it very nicely,” Bravo said.

Power Surge had her stakes debut in the Evening Jewel Stakes. Ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Power Surge set the pace, and held off a sustained threat from Connie Swingle to score a narrow win.

“She was really game all the way down the lane,” Gonzalez said.

Power Surge ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.87 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

The Evening Jewel was the first start for Connie Swingle since a win in the Generous Portion Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar last September. Connie Swingle stalked Power Surge on the backstretch under jockey Kyle Frey.

“I couldn’t have done any more as far as trip goes,” Frey said.

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Big Novel finished third, followed by Everlys Girl, Carmen Miranda, Youteyourhonor, Professors’ Pride, At the Spa and Munny Penny.

Power Surge is trained by Blaine Wright for the seven-party partnership. The Evening Jewel was her first start away from Golden Gate Fields, where she won a maiden special weight for statebred fillies on Dec. 26 in her second start, but was second and sixth in two allowance races against open company in February and March.

Power Surge has earned $126,590.