Santa Anita: Vamo a Galupiar rallies to win Megahertz

ARCADIA, Calif. - Vamo a Galupiar, a Group1 stakes winner in Chile in 2010, won her first stakes in the United States in Saturday's $78,500 Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita.

Vamo a Galupiar ($25.20) closed from last in a field of seven fillies and mares to win the one-mile turf race by a convincing 3 1/4 lengths in 1:34.95. The course was listed as firm despite overnight rain.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Vamo a Galupiar benefited from a rapid pace of 21.95 and 44.25 seconds set by Equitana, another Group 1 winner from South America. Not surprisingly, the pace took its toll and Equitana faded to finish last.

Vamo a Galupiar, a 5-year-old mare by Proud Citizen, closed along the rail to finish clear of Celestial Kitten, who was a nose in front of the 27-1 longshot Pick and Pray. Wild Mia, the 6-5 favorite, was sixth early and closed to finish fourth.

"She's got a tremendous turn of foot," Talamo said of Vamo a Galupiar. "We just stayed on the rail all the way and everything opened up."

Vamo a Galupiar has won 4 of 6 starts and $100,512. Trained by Neil Drysdale for Robert Evans, Vamo a Galupiar was seventh in the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap at Hollywood Park last April, her U.S. debut. The Megahertz was her second start in the United States.