Professors' Pride cruises to victory in Soviet Problem Stakes
CYPRESS, Calif. – Professors’ Pride was unchallenged on the lead in Friday’s $101,500 Soviet Problem Stakes for 2-year-old California-bred fillies at Los Alamitos, maintaining her advantage throughout the mile race to remain unbeaten after two starts.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez and sent off as a slight favorite, Professors’ Pride ($5.60) won by three lengths over Big Novel, the 9-5 second choice.
“She broke running,” Hernandez said of Professors’ Pride. “Since the first jump, she was really sharp. She was ready to run.”
Professors Pride set an early pace of 23.15 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.48 for a half-mile, and finished in 1:36.94.
“I was comfortable out there,” Hernandez said. “She was waiting for some company. She was looking around and enjoyed being in front.”
Big Novel, second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds at seven furlongs on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, finished two lengths in front of Madiha.
Girl Ranger finished fourth, followed by Dendera, At the Spa, Rose Maddox, and Munny Penny.
Professors’ Pride, by Bayern, was purchased for $60,000 as the Fasig-Tipton California yearling sale at Los Alamitos in 2020. Trained by Eddie Truman for Academic Farms, Professors’ Pride won her debut in a maiden special weight race for statebred fillies and mares on Nov. 14 at Del Mar.
In two starts, Professors’ Pride has earned $102,000.