Toinette waltzes to Wilshire win

In 2018 and last year, Toinette won two stakes each season, three of which were graded stakes.

Saturday, Toinette opened her 2020 season with a cozy win in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. The style of the win suggests that Toinette is ready for another successful campaign.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Toinette had an early lead, stalked a rival on the backstretch and then retook the lead before drawing away to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:35.20. Toinette earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

The $100,000 Wilshire Stakes was Toinette’s first start since a fourth behind Got Stormy in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar last December.

Facing four rivals in the Wilshire, Toinette ($3.40) led after a quarter-mile in 23.89 seconds, but was passed by 11-1 Gypsy Spirit, who led through a half-mile in 47.78 seconds.

“There was no pace,” Prat said. “She was a little fresh. She took me right in the race. A horse made a move on the outside to get the race to go. She had a nice breather and did the rest from there.”

Prat had Toinette in second on the turn and took the lead again in early stretch, leading by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.

“I didn’t want to be on the lead and was glad a horse made a move,” Prat said.

Red Lark, the only 3-year-old in a field of five, closed from last to finish second at 14-1. Red Lark finished a half-length in front of 26-1 Querelle, who was followed by Gypsy Spirit and Keeper Ofthe Stars.

Red Lark and Querelle were supplemented for $2,000 when entries were taken on Wednesday. Cordiality and Simply Breathless were scratched on Saturday morning.

The Wilshire was the first start for Keeper Ofthe Stars since an upset win at 7-1 in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares on turf on May 25. Saturday, Keeper Ofthe Stars stalked the pace on the backstretch and was not a factor in the stretch, finishing 5 3/4 lengths lengths behind Toinette.

Toinette is trained by Neil Drysdale for Ken Baba, Edward Hudson Jr., and Lynne Hudson. By Scat Daddy, Toinette has won 8 of 12 starts and earned $566,720.