Tout Charmant takes San Gorgonio
ARCADIA, Calif. - Apparently, Tout Charmant is not ready to call it a career.
After losing all three starts last year and with retirement a possibility, Tout Charmant won the fifth graded stakes of her career in Sunday's $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap* at Santa Anita.
The win gave trainer Ron McAnally his 100th stakes win at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, joining Charles Whittingham (204) and D. Wayne Lukas (100).
After the race, McAnally was optimistic that owners Robert and Janice McNair would leave Tout Charmant in training.
"They said if she runs well, they'll keep her racing," McAnally said.
Ridden by Chris McCarron, Tout Charmant was always prominent in the San Gorgonio, run over 1 1-8 miles on turf. Fourth early, she jumped into contention on the backstretch to McCarron's surprise.
"When she got into the clear she was like a European horse, she took off on me," McCarron said. "She knew what she was doing and I didn't get in the way."
Following pacesetter Dancingonice, Tout Charmant was second on the final turn, racing off the rail. She was one of four fillies in contention in early stretch, joined by Dancingonice, Vencera and Janet, who rallied four-wide.
Through the final furlong, Tout Charmant was clearly best, pulling away to win by two lengths in 1:47.22.
"Once she got the lead, she's game on the lead," McAnally said.
Janet, who closed from last, finished second, a length in front of Vencera. Dancingonice (the 9-5 favorite) was fourth, followed by Alexine, Tropical Lady, Impeachable and Built to Last.
The San Gorgonio was Tout Charmant's first win since the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in 2000. A winner of 8 of 26 starts and $1,712,879, she was unplaced in the Palomar and Las Palmas handicaps and Winstar Galaxy Stakes last year.
"Hopefully, she's back," McCarron said. "She finally tried."
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