Stays in Vegas wins career debut in Gonzalez Memorial

First-time starter Stays in Vegas did not break alertly and was squeezed back to last in the early going, but when she got in gear she proved superior to five rivals, capturing the $58,255 Juan Gonzalez Memorial by six lengths on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet at the Alameda County Fair.

A $40,000 September Keeneland purchase, Stays in Vegas ($14.60), ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, shifted inside to get past Ourprincessmelanie at the back of the pack down the backstretch as Ibelievewewillwin opened a quick lead.

She’s So Vain began to put pressure on the pacesetter on the far turn as Ricardo Gonzalez shifted Stays in Vegas outside in the clear.

Ibelievewewillwin began to pull clear of She’s So Vain turning into the stretch, but Stays in Vegas found another gear from the three-path and roared to the lead, pulling clear easily and extending her margin in the 5 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies without being asked in the stretch as the field paraded home.

She won with a 1:04.14 clocking with Ibelievewewillwin an easy second, seven in front of She’s So Vain, who was 5 1/2 lengths in front of odds-on favorite Sambamzajammin, who finished fourth.

Owned by KMN Racing LLC and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Stays in Vegas earned $32,150 for her easy score.