Show It N Moe It wins stretch battle in Spring Fever
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ARCADIA, Calif. – There was little separating Show It N Moe It and S Y Sky on the tote board or at the finish of Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita.
The two dueled together for the final quarter-mile before Show It N Moe It ($4) prevailed by three-quarters of a length over S Y Sky, finishing six furlongs in 1:10.18. Show It N Moe It earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.
Show It N Moe It was a slight even-money favorite, drawing $81,900 of the $201,855 bet to win. There was $81,796 bet to win on S Y Sky, who was also even-money in the field of five California-bred fillies and mares.
Both Rafael Bejarano on Show It N Moe It and Joe Talamo aboard S Y Sky thought they would win in the final quarter-mile.
Show It N Moe It disputed the early pace with Coco Kisses through an opening quarter-mile in 22.25 seconds despite drifting well off the rail.
“She started to lug out,” Bejarano said. “On the turn, she moved back toward the rail.”
Approaching the turn, S Y Sky closed from third to reach contention on the rail and led narrowly over Show It N Moe It after a half-mile in 45.63 seconds. There was ample room for S Y Sky to take a position on the inside when Talamo urged the 5-year-old mare.
“The filly was getting out on the backstretch,” Talamo said of Show It N Moe It. “She was three or four off the rail.”
Entering the stretch, S Y Sky held a narrow lead, but Show It N Moe It was always within range.
“I got her where I wanted to be, and she fought back,” Bejarano said.
The loss left Talamo slightly surprised.
“I thought we had them down the lane,” he said.
S Y Sky finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of 7-1 Coco Kisses, who was followed by Barbara Beatrice and Into Rissa.
Show It N Moe It won her second stakes in the Spring Fever. A 4-year-old filly by Grace Upon Grace, Show It N Moe It won the CTBA Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in 2017. Trained by Gary Sherlock, Show It N Moe It has won 6 of 19 starts and earned $425,604 for owners Terry Lovingier, Tom London, and Eugene Zondlo. Lovingier bred Show It N Moe It.
S Y Sky, owned by breeder Nick Alexander, has won three stakes, including the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Jan. 26.
