She's Complete wins maiden in Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. – The same strategy that yielded a victory in last year’s Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf worked again this year, as She’s Complete, echoing 2013 winner Clenor, scored her first stakes win in the one-mile grass race for 2-year-old fillies Monday at Del Mar.

She’s Complete, as with Clenor, began her career in Ireland, was purchased privately by bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, then was brought here for a partnership that includes Great Friends Racing and Steve Keh, and placed with trainer Doug O’Neill.

Add in Rafael Bejarano, and the same team has a winner’s-circle picture from the same race two years straight.

She’s Complete ($5.20) was favored even though she was winless in three prior starts. But her good Irish form, coupled with an encouraging local debut on Polytrack on Aug. 13, made her the choice of the bettors.

“She was running against much tougher at home,” said Elliott, who is based in Britain but was once an assistant to local trainer Eoin Harty.

The result was in doubt until deep stretch, though, for She’s Complete just did wear down 32-1 longshot Sea Mona in the closing yards to win by a half-length. Madam Aamoura was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

She’s Complete was timed in 1:35.89 on the firm turf course. She earned $60,000 from a total purse of $100,750.

Two runners, Heart of Paradise and Achiever’s Legacy – both trained by Jerry Hollendorfer – did not finish the race. Achiever’s Legacy was pulled up going down the backstretch when her saddle slipped forward under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Heart of Paradise was pulled up in the stretch because jockey Joe Talamo did not like the way she was traveling, but she walked off the course.