You best in Las Virgenes
ARCADIA, Calif. - You did not have the easiest journey in Sunday's $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes* at Santa Anita, but her wide trip was enough to put her on top of California's 3-year-old filly division.
You ($4.40) won by a length over Habibti, a reverse of the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Dec. 16 when the two finished a head apart.
Ridden by Jerry Bailey for owner Edmund Gann and trainer Bobby Frankel, You broke from the outside in the field of six and raced outside of fillies throughout. She was four-wide on the first turn, five-wide on the backstretch and three-wide on the second turn, always within 2 1-2 lengths on the lead.
"She was off the bridle and relaxed," Bailey said.
On the backstretch, You was one of five fillies within a half-length of Tali'sluckybusride, who led through fractios of 23.38 and 46.22 seconds while fighting off challenges from Respectful and Bella Bella Bella, who made a brief run on the backstretch.
At the top of the stretch, You raced outside of Tali'sluckybusride and Spring Meadow, a trio that had put away Respectful and Bella Bella Bella. In early stretch, Spring Meadow dropped out of contention when You took the lead from Tali'sluckybusride.
Habibti, last on the backstretch, challenged in late stretch, but could not get to the winner, who finished a mile in 1:36.84.
"I knew Habibti would be coming whether it was sooner or later," Bailey said.
Tali'sluckybusride finished third, followed by Respectful, Spring Meadow and Bella Bella Bella.
You gave Bailey his first stakes win of the Santa Anita meeting, following losses on three preceding weekends by Siphonic, Squirtle Squirt and Lido Palace.
You has won 4 of 7 starts and $660,440. The win in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes was her first stakes victory since the Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park last October. In between, You finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and second in the Hollywood Starlet.
Frankel has the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3 as a long-term goal.
"I think if she chases something, she'll run forever," Frankel said. "She relaxes pretty good. Hopefully far enough for the Kentucky Oaks."
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