Abbondanza Racing LLC’s Goodyearforroses easily drew off in the stretch of Sunday’s $201,035 Santa Ana Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park to earn her third consecutive stakes victory under jockey Corey Nakatani.
It was also the third straight win since the Azamour mare transferred to trainer Richard Baltas’ shedrow, making her three-for-three for her new conditioner.
Kenriya took command of the Santa Ana out of the gate, setting the pace through splits of :23.85, :48.90 and 1:12.80. Meanwhile, Goodyearforroses settled into a stalking spot on the outside in fourth. The five-year-old mare picked up the pace while running three wide around the final bend, took over in the lane and pulled away to stop the clock in 1:47.98 for 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf.
Sent off the even-money favorite, Goodyearforroses paid $4 for the win. Pretty Girl rallied from the rear of the field to take second 1 3/4 lengths behind while Sweet Charity followed by another 1 1/2 lengths in third. Sheeza Milky Way, Evo Campo, Do the Dance, Responsibleforlove and 4-1 second choice Kenriya completed the order of finish.
Goodyearforroses improved her record to read 15-7-0-2, $365,970. She began her career in England before transferring to trainer Roger Attfield and making her U.S. debut in February 2016 at Gulfstream Park. Unable to score in three tries stateside, she gutted out a head victory when trying Woodbine’s turf for the first time last June.
The Irish-bred captured the off-the-turf Flaming Page Stakes a few races later over Woodbine’s synthetic track and just missed by a neck in the all-weather Maple Leaf Stakes (Can-G3) in November. Goodyearforroses was sent to Baltas after that and made her debut for her new barn in Santa Anita’s Robert J. Frankel Stakes on New Year’s Eve, scoring by 5 1/4 lengths in that off-the-turf, sloppy-sealed affair. She opened 2017 with another easy win, this time in the grassy Astra II Stakes on February 2.
Bred in Ireland by The Hornets, Goodyearforroses is out of the multiple listed-placed Galileo mare Guilia and counts as her third dam New Zealand champion Let’s Sgor.
SANTA ANA QUOTES
Corey Nakatani, jockey Goodyearforroses, winner
“Her winning so easily is just a tribute to (trainer) Richard (Baltas)’s team. Richard has been so patient with her and has let her tell us when she’s ready to go.
“The group that owns her is great and being given the opportunity that I’ve been given, to ride her…the sky is the limit. She’s doing unbelievable, as you can tell from the way she ran today. She tells us when she wants to run and she’s just such a good mare.”
Richard Baltas, trainer Goodyearforroses, winner
“She’s been aggressive from the time we got her and it’s nice to have a jock like Corey, who I don’t have to give any instructions to. She’s done everything right and she’s acted like a good horse. We’ve got some weight on her now and she’s all race horse. We might stay home (next time) and run in the ($300,000) Gamely (Stakes [G1] on May 27).”
Bing Bush, owner Goodyearforroses, winner
“I can’t put that run into words. We’re beyond the moon! That was amazing.”
