Simply Breathless wins third straight in Wilshire

ARCADIA, Calif. – Simply Breathless has compiled a three-race winning streak at three diverse tracks in the last nine months.

After winning a minor handicap at Ascot last September, Simply Breathless won her American debut, and first stakes, in the Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 27. Saturday, she won her graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Simply Breathless ($12.20) closed from seventh in a field of 10 in the final quarter-mile to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Ollie’s Candy, a 5-2 chance. Storm the Hill, who won the 2018 Wilshire, finished third as the 2-1 favorite, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

Simply Breathless was timed in 1:35.50 in the $101,755 Wilshire. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Prat was aboard Simply Breathless in the Golden Poppy and rode a confident race in the Wilshire. He kept Simply Breathless on the inside to the turn, racing behind Ollie’s Candy.

“It worked out well,” Prat said. “It was a strong pace in front and I was patient. I had to be patient again on the turn, but she showed me a good turn of foot.”

Entering the stretch, Simply Breathless moved to the outside of the field and was fourth with a furlong remaining. She reached the front well before the finish.

Ippodamia’s Girl finished fourth, followed by Don’t Blame Judy, Poster Girl, Achira, Tapped, A Little Bit Me, and Meal Ticket.

Simply Breathless, a 4-year-old filly by Bated Breath, is owned by Cloros Bloodstock, trained by Neil Drysdale, and has won 6 of 15 starts and earned $161,963. She won 3 of 8 starts in England last year, all in handicaps at a mile.