Teena Ella holds off Tom's Regret, makes Senorita first stakes triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - The impeccably bred Teena Ella held off a late surge from the longshot Tom’s Regret to win her first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita.

Teena Ella, by War Front, is out of the Hall of Fame mare Beholder. The $100,500 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies was her second start in a stakes, preceded by a second in the Angels Flight Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on March 26.

In the Senorita Stakes, also run on the hillside turf course, Teena Ella closed from fourth in a field of six 3-year-old fillies to take the lead at the eighth pole under jockey Edwin Maldonado.

Teena Ella ($7) won by a neck over 21-1 Tom’s Regret, finishing in 1:12.36. Teena Ella earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

“She was all-out,” Maldonado said. “I was happy that I got her to settle for me.”

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Teena Ella trailed pacesetter Procrastination by two lengths after an opening quarter-mile in 21.85 seconds and was within 1 1/2 lengths of the front after a half-mile.

“I was waiting to cross the dirt,” Maldonado said. “I was full of run.”

Teena Ella caught stretch leader Fast and Shiny in the stretch and was challenged late by Tom’s Regret, who started on turf for the first time.

Tom’s Regret, who was ridden by Kyle Frey, was fifth early, the first time she raced from off the pace since a poor start in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante last June. Tom’s Regret set the pace in her first two starts this year.

“My horse had never been taken back like that,” Frey said. “I wanted to get her stride right. I swung out and she came flying. I think she might be a turf horse.”

The Wild Grazer (2-1) closed from fifth on the hillside to finish third, followed by Procrastination, Fast and Shiny and Chismosa.

Ag Bullet, the winner of the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at a mile on turf in February, was withdrawn with three minutes to post because of unsoundness, officials said.

Ag Bullet later broke loose from a handler and ran freely down the hillside portion of the course before she was caught by an outrider and taken to the barn area. When Ag Bullet was running free, the remainder of the field was assembling near the starting gate.

Teena Ella races for owner and breeder Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella, who also trained Beholder. Teena Ella has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $128,740.

Barrera Stakes recap

A stakes winner at Turf Paradise and Arizona over the winter, One in Vermillion won for the first time in California in Saturday’s $98,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Santa Anita.

The win was an upset. One in Vermillion ($12) was the longshot in a field of four.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, One in Vermillion dueled with 3-1 Hard to Figure before pulling clear in early stretch to win by a convincing 5 1/4 lengths, finishing seven furlongs on the main track in 1:22.77. One in Vermillion earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93, which equals his career best.

Navy Man, the 2-1 second choice, closed from last to finish second, a half-length in front of 6-5 favorite Tahoe Sunrise. Hard to Figure faded to finish last.

The Barrera Stakes was One in Vermillion’s first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8. Owned by Jonathan Kalman of Phoenix, One in Vermillion started for trainer Eric Kruljac in the Santa Anita Derby and Barrera Stakes.

Kruljac credited Arizona-based trainer Esteban Martinez for preparing One in Vermillion, who arrived at Santa Anita in mid-week for the Barrera.

“All we did was put the saddle on him,” Kruljac said.

By the Friesan Fire stallion Army Mule, California-bred One in Vermillion has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $242,440. One in Vermillion was purchased for $26,000 as a yearling.

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