December 26, 2024

Sharp Lisa takes Santa Ynez

Last updated: 1/17/05 10:19 PM


Paul Reddam, Suarez Racing Inc. and Mark Schlesinger’s SHARP
LISA (Dixieland Band) fulfilled expectations Monday as she closed
to win the $150,000 Santa Ynez S. (G2) at Santa Anita. Mother (Lion Hearted)
led the field through splits of :22 2/5 and :45 3/5 with No Bull
Baby (Indian Charlie) in close tow while Sharp Lisa sat on the rail stalking the
group under Tyler Baze. No Bull Baby took a brief lead in midstretch as Mother trailed off the
pace, but she was soon overtaken by the eventual winner, who closed determinedly
on the outside through the drive to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths, completing
seven fast furlongs in 1:23.


Sharp
Lisa en route to a victory in the Santa Ynez
 
(Benoit Photo)

“I think every trainer’s dream is to have a horse like this,” trainer Doug
O’Neill said. “The Las Virgenes (S. [G1], February 12) is possible. We wanted to
build her confidence and our confidence so now we might be a little more eager
to face a filly like Julio’s (Canani, Sweet Catomine [Storm Cat]), but we’ll
talk to the owners and see what happens.”

The 4-5 favorite paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.20 while keying a $8.30exacta ($1),
$36.90 trifecta ($1) and $81.30 7-5-6-1 superfecta ($1). No Bull Baby was able
to get up for second, returning $5 and $3.60 at 7-1, while Hot Attraction
(Pulpit), who nipped Mother by a nose on the wire, rounded out the top three, giving back $3.20 at 6-1.

Mother was followed under the wire with Northern Mischief (Yankee Victor), Bulita (Knockadoon)
and Ninadivina (Cape Town). Revealed (Old Trieste) was
scratched.

The victory increased Sharp Lisa’s bankroll to $261,600 and she now owns a mark
of 5-2-2-0. Previous achievements include runner-up finishes in the Hollywood
Starlet S. (G1) and Alcibiades S. (G2). Her only off-the-board finish was a
sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Sharp Lisa was bred in Kentucky at Winstar Farm LLC and is out of Winter’s
Gone (Dynaformer). The chestnut sophomore is a half-sister to an unnamed
two-year-old by Silver Deputy and an unnamed yearling filly by Touch Gold. She was
purchased at the Keeneland November September Yearling sale for $50,000.