Selcourt impresses with Santa Monica Stakes victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Selcourt ran her winning streak to three with a commanding win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for female sprinters at Santa Anita.

Allowed to set a moderate early pace, Selcourt ($7.40) was never threatened in the stretch, winning by 4 1/2 lengths under jockey Tyler Baze.

“She’s getting better and better,” Baze said. “She broke like a shot. She ran around there very relaxed.”

The $200,000 Santa Monica drew a field of five. Selcourt led by a length over 4-5 favorite Paradise Woods through an opening quarter-mile in 22.85 seconds. Paradise Woods, a two-time Grade 1 winner last year, moved closer on the turn, but could not sustain the threat.

Selcourt led by 4 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining and finished seven furlongs in 1:21. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

“She got soft splits early and came home fast,” trainer John Sadler said.

Marley’s Freedom closed from fourth to finish second at 8-1, her first graded stakes placing in her third such race.

“We’re happy,” trainer Bob Hess Jr. said. “We beat some nice fillies.”

Skye Diamonds, who was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last November, finished third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths.

Skye Diamonds was third on the turn, faded to fourth in early stretch and passed Paradise Woods in the final furlong to reclaim third at the finish. Trainer Bill Spawr said jockey Tiago Pereira wanted to position Skye Diamonds on the outside of the track.

“He said he was trying to get to the fast part of the track, the outside half,” Spawr said.

Paradise Woods was beaten 6 1/2 lengths in her first start since a second in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs here in December. Paradise Woods was sidelined by an illness and a minor foot ailment earlier this year.

The loss on Saturday left trainer Richard Mandella puzzled.

“She didn’t run like we thought she would,” Mandella said.

Selcourt, by Tiz Wonderful, has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $283,920 for a partnership that includes breeder Keith Abrahams along with Sandra Lazaruk and Medallion Racing. The Santa Monica was the most prestigious win of Selcourt’s career and her third stakes win. The current winning streak includes the minor Kalookan Queen Stakes in January and the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes on Feb. 18.

“She’s going up the ladder quickly,” Sadler said. “She’s been good all winter and stepping up to the challenge.”