Sutherland gets another graded win in El Encino

Jockey Chantal Sutherland began the weekend without a graded stakes win in her career at Santa Anita. By Sunday night, she had two.

After winning Saturday's Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes, Sutherland guided Pretty Unusual to a 29-1 upset in the for 4-year-old fillies on Sunday.

The victory was not without a touch of drama for Pretty Unusual's backers.

Pretty Unusual was stuck behind rivals in traffic in early stretch before Sutherland found sufficient room. Pretty Unusual closed well through the stretch to win the Grade 2 race over 1 1/16 miles by 1 1/4 lengths.

"Things just opened up," Sutherland said. "The traffic just separated. She had amazing acceleration."

Pretty Unusual ($61.40) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.72. She was sixth on the turn when in traffic but was a fast-closing fourth with a furlong remaining. Pretty Unusual won by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-5 favorite Stardom Bound, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2008. Freedom Star, a 19-1 chance, held third after setting a decent pace of 23.56 and 48.48 seconds.

Pretty Unusual has won 3 of 10 starts and $249,632. She won the Melair Stakes for state-breds last April, and was later sixth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks and 13th in the Grade 1 American Oaks.

Pretty Unusual races for breeders Madeline Auerbach, Marie Goda, and Jack Klugman. Klugman, who starred in such famous television programs as "The Odd Couple" and "Quincy, M.E." was in the winner's circle.