Shasta Star nails heavy favorite in Governor's Cup

Shasta Star ($27.80) rallied late to pass two-time defending champion and 3-10 favorite Alliford Bay in the final strides and win the $54,450 California Governor's Cup Handicap at the California State Fair in Sacramento on Saturday.

A 4-year-old Deary's Image filly, Shasta Star was making her stakes debut but had hit the board in all nine of previous career starts. She won a maiden race at Sacramento last year only to be disqualified to second.

Alliford Bay broke well and took the lead but was forced to race wide all the way as Gotham Desire, who broke just inside her, pressed her to the stretch.

Alliford Bay and Gotham Desire went head-and-head for the opening half-mile through fractions of 22.76 and 45.53 before Gotham Desire began to fade.

Alliford Bay's stablemate Strip It Down, the second choice in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares, moved up to second in the stretch. But jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, credited by trainer Sergio Ledezma with giving Shasta Star a “perfect ride,” sat back early as he also raced a bit wide. He moved outside for a clear path in the stretch and got to the finish line in 1:11.10 while edging the favorite by a head.

“I wasn't sure if she won it. We got lucky,” said Ledezma. “I told Ricky that probably [Alliford Bay] would go to the lead. He watched the break and stayed in a good position.”

Vronilla Parfait, Shasta Star's stablemate got up for third ahead of Strip It Down late after breaking slowly from the rail and running last for the opening quarter.

“They both ran well,” said Ledezma.

Shasta Star, a Speech Stable homebred in partnership with William B. Bowman, earned $31,750 for her fourth win in 10 starts, increasing her career earnings to $108,230.