Show Card holds off Coffee in Bed in Dark Mirage Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - Show Card completed a two-race September campaign with a perfect record on Saturday.

After winning the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile by 10 lengths at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Show Card won her first open stakes in Saturday’s $125,000 Dark Mirage Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Show Card stalked the pace while racing wide, took the lead early in the long stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths over a slightly unlucky Coffee in Bed.

Sent off favored, Show Card ($3.40) was timed in 1:37.75 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81. Show Card was the only 3-year-old in the field of six.

“It was a good effort,” Hernandez said. “I broke a step slow. I think that was better because the other horses were quicker.

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“I got a good position. It looks like she likes the distance.”

Show Card stalked 40-1 Gila, who set an early pace of 23.58 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.63 for a half-mile. Coffee in Bed was fourth on the backstretch racing on the inside. On the turn, jockey Kyle Frey tried to move Coffee in Bed closer to the front on the inside, but briefly lacked room.

In early stretch, Coffee in Bed, the 8-5 second choice, had a clear path and steadily closed to be nearest the winner at the wire.

Victorious (4-1) finished third, followed by Indy’s Star, Gila and Ascendancy.

Show Card, by Into Mischief, has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $223,500. She won consecutive starts at six furlongs at Santa Anita in a maiden race and allowance race in March and May before finishing last of four in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita in June.

Show Card has not lost since.

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