Santa Anita: Iotapa displays high speed in capturing Santa Maria

ARCADIA, Calif.- Iotapa was sent to the lead for the first time in Saturday’s $200,250 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita and the result was the most prestigious win of her eight-race career.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Iotapa set the pace in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles, and pulled away in early stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Let Faith Arise.

Iotapa ($6.40) was timed in 1:42.30.

Talamo and trainer John Sadler discussed a front-running strategy before the race.

“I wanted her to be up close,” Sadler said. “She does have tactical speed. I told [Joe], ‘If you find yourself in front, I don’t mind.’ ”

Iotapa set a pace of 23.28 and 47.75 seconds through the first half-mile. She led by a half-length over the 27-1 outsider Yahilwa on the backstretch before extending her lead on the turn and into the stretch.

“She’s all class,” Talamo said of Iotapa. “I was pretty happy with the fractions.”

Let Faith Arise, fourth early, closed to finish a clear second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Stanwyck. Jockey Corey Nakatani said he wanted to keep Let Faith Arise close to the front, but preserve some run for the stretch.

“I wanted to make sure she put in her best effort and she did,” he said. “It was only her second time going two turns.”

Yahilwa finished fourth, followed by Ondine, and Golden Production. Ondine was the 2-1 favorite. She raced in fourth on the backstretch and into the turn, but was no threat to the leader late, losing by 6 1/4 lengths.

The field lost one runner earlier in the day when Fiftyshadesofhay, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, was found to be suffering from an abscess in a foot, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Iotapa, a 4-year-old by Afleet Alex, races for Hronis Racing. Iotapa has won 4 of 8 starts and earned $363,490. In 2013, she won the minor Railbird Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters, but was winless in three starts around two turns. Those losses included a second to champion Beholder in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April. Earlier this year, Iotapa was second to Scherzinger in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes over seven furlongs on Jan. 25.