September Stars wins Possibly Perfect, pulled up as a precaution
ARCADIA, Calif.- September Stars won her American stakes debut in Sunday’s $77,995 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita, but afterwards was pulled up on the backstretch with concern over her condition.
Jockey Gary Stevens said he “erred on the side of caution” when he dismounted September Stars after the race.
September Stars was taken to trainer Paddy Gallagher’s stable for evaluation and was being walked in the half-hour after the race, Gallagher said.
“There’s nothing obvious,” Gallagher said. “There is something bugging her.”
The 3-5 favorite, September Stars closed from fifth in a field of six to win by three-quarters of a length over 7-2 Responsibleforlove, who set the pace.
The Possibly Perfect was the third win in as many starts in the United States for September Stars, who won optional claiming races on turf on March 23 and May 7. Stevens was aboard for those wins.
Stevens said September Stars did not have the same fluid strides at times during the Possibly Perfect Stakes as she did in previous starts.
“She didn’t get into a rhythm with me,” Stevens said. “I thought the turf might have been too firm.
“I was very confident at the half-mile pole and she quickened nicely at the eighth pole. As I hit the wire, I didn’t like what I felt. When she switched leads, she stopped on a dime.
“It was slight. We erred on the side of caution.”
September Stars ($3.20) ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:00.30.
Responsibleforlove, who led by as many as nine lengths, finished a neck in front of 7-2 Place des Vosges. Stylish in Black was fourth, followed by Hiking and Laseen.
Evo Campo, the 2-1 favorite on the morning-line, was withdrawn on Sunday morning after a training incident on Saturday in which she struck herself when spooked by another horse, Gallagher said. Evo Campo won the 2016 Possibly Perfect.
September Stars, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Sea the Stars, has won 5 of 11 starts and earned $129,781. Owned by Edward Easton and Andrew Rosen, September Stars was ninth and eighth in stakes in England last August and September before joining Gallagher’s stable over the winter.