Potesta edges Eden's Moon in Hollywood Oaks

Grade 1 winner Eden's Moon, the even-money favorite among eight rivals,

showed speed at the start and led the way into the first turn, with Potesta

tracking about a length back in second through an quarter-mile in :23 2/5. Willa

B Awesome made an early move up the inside entering the backstretch to apply

pressure as Eden's Moon reached the half-mile mark in :47, and Potesta continued

to race up close, only a half-length back in third.

Willa B Awesome checked out in tight quarters entering the far turn, but

Potesta loomed a menacing presence throughout the bend. Eden's Moon passed the

three-quarters point in 1:11 2/5 with only a head advantage, and Potesta surged

to a narrow lead along the outside in midstretch. Eden's Moon courageously

fought back, re-rallying to the front in deep stretch, and the two rivals bumped

as they dueled to the wire. Potesta gained the upper hand once again in the

final yards, stopping the teletimer in 1:43 1/5.

"It was all the horse today. Eden's Moon is a real nice filly so I knew I was

going to need a lot of horse to get by," Talamo said. "That's why I waited

longer than I wanted to. I figured it would pay off the last part, which it did.

We just got up. She's unbelievable.

"(Trainer) Mike (Mitchell) has done an unbelievable job with her. That was

her third career start and she just beat a Grade I winner. When they can get

headed and come back like that, that's a real nice horse. I really think the

sky's the limit with her."

"I thought Joe gave her a million dollar ride," Mitchell added.

"I thought I was going to win the race," said Rafael Bejarano, rider of

runner-up Eden's Moon. ""She tried really hard. That horse who beat me won by 11

1/2 lengths last time. I was waiting for her to come."

Off as the 7-2 second choice in the wagering, Potesta returned payouts of

$9.80, $4.20 and $3.40. Via Villaggio rallied belatedly for third, 2 1/4 lengths

behind the top two, and it was another 2 1/4-length margin back to Killer Graces

in fourth. Starlight Magic, Willa B Awesome, Open Water and Customer Base

rounded out the official order.

Bred in Kentucky by Maynard Farm and B A Man Inc., Potesta is out

stakes-winning Furiously mare Katzen, who is also the dam of Peruvian Group

1-placed Kabu. This is the female family of multiple stakes queen and Grade 2

runner-up Morris Code, an earner of $745,167; and Grade 2 vixen Enumerating.

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