Tirupati leads Wilshire throughout in earning first stakes triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tirupati, the subject of consecutive claims for $25,000 and $50,000 at Woodbine last October, won the first stakes of her career with a front-running effort in Saturday’s Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Tirupati ($4) led by at least a length throughout and won by a length over Alpha Bella, the 5-2 second choice.

Rispoli said a pre-race conversation with trainer Jonathan Thomas determined that Tirupati should set the pace.

“The key was to be the speed,” Rispoli said. “Jonathan gave me the green light.”

Rispoli said Thomas wanted to avoid a situation in which Tirupati was challenged late by a closer.

“He said, ‘Don’t turn it into a sprint,’ ” Rispoli said.

Tirupati ran a mile on turf in 1:34.61 in the $101,000 Wilshire for fillies and mares. Tirupati earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

Tirupati set the pace at times earlier in her career, but finished second in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on March 1 after racing in second. Tirupati led in the stretch of the Buena Vista, but was caught late and finished second by a head to Liguria, who was held out of the Wilshire in favor of the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 26.

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The pace in the Wilshire Stakes – 23.24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.99 for a half-mile – was slower than the fractions in the Buena Vista, which included an opening half-mile in 45.37.

“She kept running and she did the rest,” Rispoli said of Saturday’s stretch run.

The second-place finish by Alpha Bella, who was fifth in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on dirt on March 7, was her fourth runner-up finish in a graded stakes since arriving in California from New York last summer. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Alpha Bella was third early in the Wilshire and was closest to Tirupati at the finish.

“I had a good trip saving ground,” Hernandez said. “She ran a nice race. The winner got away from us.”

Big Hug, the longest shot in the field at 47-1, finished third, followed by Sophisticate, Uncorked, Tahini and Desert Rhapsody.

Tirupati, a 4-year-old filly by Mitole, races for Augustin Stable and Thomas, who had the Kentucky-bred when her career began last April. Tirupati was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Larry Attard from Augustin Stable and Thomas in a non-winners of two at Woodbine on Oct. 3, 2024. In her following start on Oct. 26, Augustin Stable and Thomas claimed Tirupati for $50,000.

In her 13-race career, Tirupati has won four races and earned $217,676.

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