Santa Anita: Teddy's Promise fires fresh in L.A. Woman

ARCADIA, Calif. - Teddy’s Promise ran to expectations in Saturday’s $100,250 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita, justifying trainer Ron Ellis’s pre-race confidence with a two-length win.

In the days leading to the L.A. Woman Stakes, Ellis said that Teddy’s Promise had thrived during a break of 2 1/2 months since mid-summer. She showed how on Saturday.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Teddy’s Promise had an ideal trip in the L.A. Woman, run over 6 1/2 furlongs. Espinoza had Teddy’s Promise in third-place for the opening quarter-mile, stalking pacesetter Socialbug, who ran the first quarter-mile in 22.38 seconds.

Teddy’s Promise took the lead after a half-mile in 45.02 seconds, and was not bothered in the stretch.

“I think she ran one of best races today and I thought she would do that going in,” Ellis said.

Great Hot, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes here in February, closed from fourth to finish second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of Sister Kate. Executiveprivilege, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2012, could only finish fourth, followed by Socialbug and Conkate.

Teddy’s Promise ($5.40) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.28.

“The brief freshening really helped her,” Ellis said. “She’s turned a corner mentally. She’s not working against us.”

Owned by her breeders, Ted and Judy Nichols, Teddy’s Promise is a candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint over seven furlongs here on Nov. 2. Teddy’s Promise was eighth in the 2012 BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

A 5-year-old California-bred mare by Salt Lake, Teddy’s Promise has won 10 of 26 starts and $822,397. Earlier this year, she won the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes here and the minor Time to Leave Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Miss Pippa takes Swingtime

Miss Pippa won the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s $74,000 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile on turf.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Miss Pippa ($9) closed from last in a field of seven, overcoming traffic in the stretch to win by a half-length over a hard-charging Customer Base, the 2-1 favorite.

Charm the Maker finished third in the field of seven.

Miss Pippa races for Joy Ride Racing and is trained by John Sadler. A 4-year-old filly by Master Command, Miss Pippa has won 3 of 11 starts and $173,602.

In the stretch of the Swingtime, Miss Pippa briefly waited behind horses before surging to the lead when clear.