Santa Anita: Macha impresses in win over Eblouissante

Macha outfinished Eblouissante to score a mild upset in Thursday’s second race. The win helped trainer Jerry Hollendorfer stay tied with Bob Baffert for first in the trainer’s standings with 20 victories through the first 31 days of the meeting.

Macha ($8.20) closed from last in a field of five to beat 3-5 Eblouissante by 1 1/4 lengths in the race over 1 1/16 miles. Eblouissante, a half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, led by a length at the eighth pole, but could not sustain her advantage.

Macha races for Hollendorfer and Green Smith Jr. A 4-year-old filly by Majestic Warrior, Macha was third in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap on turf at Hollywood Park last June. Hollendorfer said Friday he was leaning against starting Macha in the $350,000 Santa Margarita Invitational for older fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles on March 15.

“I would like to run her in a softer spot,” Hollendorfer said. “She ran a good race, I thought.”

Hollendorfer plans to start Scherzinger, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes over seven furlongs Jan. 25, in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita.

Trainer John Shirreffs did not rule out a start in the Santa Margarita for Eblouissante, who has won 2 of 4 starts. Thursday’s allowance race was Eblouissante’s first start since she finished last of six in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga last July after becoming upset in the gate.

Eblouissante was within 1 1/2 lengths of the lead Thursday before taking the lead in the stretch.

“I was pleased with her effort,” Shirreffs said. “Before, she’d drop out and make one big run. The fact she never quit and just got tired, it was a good effort off such a long layoff. She showed a different dimension in her style of racing. It could serve her better.”