Dennis E. Weir’s homebred CARLSBAD (Rocky Bar) pulled her way to the front in
Sunday’s $100,000
Santa
Paula S. (G3) at Santa Anita, was briefly headed by Empressive Lady (Empire
Maker) rounding the turn, but quickly regained the advantage and easily
drew away in the lane to secure a 3 1/4-length victory. With Tyler Baze aboard,
the dark bay sophomore moved her record to a perfect five-for-five with the win,
and returned $5, $3.80 and $2.60 as the 3-2 favorite.
Carlsbad set splits of :21 4/5, :44 and 1:08 1/5 prior to finishing the 6
1/2-furlong Pro-Ride test in 1:14 3/5. Ultra Blend (Richly Blended) was content
to run in third on the backstretch and had the most momentum of the rest of the
field, taking second by 3 1/4 lengths over Pinkarella (Malibu Moon) to pay $7.60
and $4.80 as the 8-1 longshot. Pinkarella ran near the back with Beltene
(Unusual Heat) and finished two lengths in front of that rival on the line to
grab third. Show was worth $3.60 at 6-1, and the exotics totaled $15.50 (exacta)
and $69 (4-5-3 trifecta). Empressive Lady finished the order under the wire
while Heartless Vixen (Lion Heart) was withdrawn.
Carlsbad began her career with trainer Kevin Lewis, breaking her maiden by 4
1/4 lengths in a maiden/optional claiming event at Turf Paradise. She stayed at that track for her
next three starts, recording a 14 1/4-length trouncing in the Arizona Fillies
Breeders’ Futurity, a 19-length domination in the Arizona Juvenile Fillies S.
and, most recently, a 13 1/4-length schooling in the Arizona Oaks. Transferred
to Jeff Mullins, she made her first start for her new conditioner in this spot
and has now compiled $154,126 in lifetime earnings.
The Arizona-bred Carlsbad is out of multiple stakes winner Kits Peak (Pine
Bluff), who also produced the 2006 Arizona Fillies Breeders’ Futurity and 2007
Arizona Oaks queen, Staten Island (In Excess [Ire]). Carlsbad, who has a
yearling half-sister named Three Forks (Benton Creek), comes from the same
family as French champion and 1984 Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) winner Northern
Trick (Northern Dancer); Magazine (Prince John), heroine of the 1973 Coaching
Club American Oaks (G1); and 1977 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) victor On the Sly (*Roi
Dagobert).
Also included in the family are 1978 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1)
winner White Star Line (Northern Dancer) as well as Grade 2 victress Fairway
Flyer (Nashua), who was third in the 1972 Kentucky Oaks.