Pulpit Rider stepping up into Golden State Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Pulpit Rider will have her stakes debut at the Del Mar autumn meeting after winning an optional claimer for California-bred fillies Sunday at Santa Anita.

Trainer Mike Puype said he will target the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3 at Del Mar, part of the undercard of the first day of Breeders’ Cup races. The Golden State Juvenile Fillies is run at seven furlongs for 2-year-old statebred fillies.

“We’ll be there,” Puype said.

Pulpit Rider closed from fifth in a field of seven to win the optional claimer by 2 1/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:13.06. Puype said immediately after the race that he did not think Pulpit Rider handled Santa Anita’s track very well, even though she won.

“I think she struggled on it and still won,” he said.

Owned by breeders Larry and Marianne Williams, Pulpit Rider has won 2 of 3 starts. After finishing fifth in her debut July 19, she won a maiden race for California-breds at six furlongs Aug. 31.

“She ran lights out on that track,” Puype said of Del Mar.