Sloane Garden steps up in Golden Poppy

Trainer Manny Badilla was looking for some place to hide as Ziarah refused to enter the gate for the $75,450 Golden Poppy on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields, but he stood proudly in the winner's circle following the race after Sloane Garden ($9.20) rallied from last to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Sloane Garden, who like Ziarah was purchased by Ronald Charles and Samuel Gordon in Great Britain, followed up a May 23 allowance victory at the distance with another dominating performance in the lane for the win.

Kyle Frey gave her a perfect ride, moving to the rail as the rest of the field was coming up the chute before hitting the main track.

Boundforjamaica, making her route debut, took the lead while setting comfortable fractions. She was challenged nearing the quarter pole by Wicked Old Fashion and fell out of contention.

Wicked Old Fashion's momentum carried her to a two-length lead in the stretch as favored Meal Ticket began moving up after going four wide on the turn.

Frey, who was winning his third race of the day, moved wide in the clear and looked a winner all the way, finishing the race in 1:43.39, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Meal Ticket. Wicked Old Fashion was another half-length back in third.

“When she explodes, she explodes,” Badilla said of Sloane Garden, who has three wins and a second in five starts since arriving in the United States. “She did the same last time, and I was a little concerned bringing her back after two weeks.”

Badilla said Ziarah sometimes is tough to load but had walked into the gate with no problem earlier in the week.

“Today, she put on a show,” he said.