Santa Anita: Customer Base by a nose in Frankel Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Customer Base had the measure of Stormy Lucy in the final strides of Sunday’s $101,000 Robert Frankel Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, prevailing by a nose.

While the margin was narrow, winning jockey Mike Smith was certain he was aboard the winner in deep stretch.

“Even though it was so close, it was a Zenyatta-like photo – I felt confident,” Smith said.

Smith was the regular rider of Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year, who came from off the pace to win 19 of her 20 starts.

In the Grade 3 Frankel, Customer Base ($10) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.45, winning the first graded stakes of her career. She was seventh of nine on the backstretch and was fourth with a furlong remaining.

Customer Base took the lead in the final strides. The loss stung jockey Isaias Enriquez, who rode Stormy Lucy.

“She had a perfect trip,” Enriquez said. “She was comfortable. I just got beat by a better horse.”

Customer Base gave owner Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor their second stakes win in as many days. On Saturday, they teamed to win the Eddie Logan Stakes with Enterprising.

Glen Hill Farm and Proctor also finished third in the Frankel with 2-1 favorite Gulsary, who was eighth on the turn and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Stormy Lucy. Nickels Wild finished fourth, followed by Moone’s My Name, Champagneandcaviar, Becky Lou, Appealing, and Playful Humor.

Customer Base is a 4-year-old filly by Lemon Drop Kid. She won the Lucie Manet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park last July and was third in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. Customer Base has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $322,182.