Santa Anita: On the Backstreets pulls away in Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – On the Backstreets has found a home on turf.

After losing two sprint stakes for 2-year-old fillies last spring and summer, On the Backstreets extended her winning streak on turf to two races, with a convincing win in Saturday’s $81,650 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

On the Backstreets ($5.80) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.44 to win her first stakes. Ridden by leading rider Rafael Bejarano, On the Backstreets stalked stablemate Sprague River through a quick early pace of 21.98 and 44.61 seconds, racing about two lengths behind.

Bejarano guided On the Backstreets to the front when the field crossed from the hillside turf course to the main oval. On the Backstreets quickly pulled away. On the Backstreets led by two lengths with a furlong remaining and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Famous Alice.

“It was a super trip,” winning trainer Peter Miller said. “She ran back to her last race. We were worried that she could bounce.”

On the Backstreets won her first start on turf in an optional claimer on the hillside course Jan. 19, finishing exactly 2 1/4 lengths in front of Famous Alice. The optional claimer was the first start for On the Backstreets since she finished sixth in the Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park last July.

In the Sweet Life Stakes, Smoove It, a 15-1 longshot, finished third, followed by the Miller-trained Sprague River, Bajan, Susans Express, and Soresca. Susans Express won the California Cup Oaks on turf in a 65-1 surprise Jan. 25.

On the Backstreets is a Street Boss filly owned by a partnership that includes Brewer Racing, David Lanzman, and Rockingham Ranch. On the Backstreets was purchased for $105,000 at the 2013 Barretts March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training. She has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $118,510.