Maiden Enchanting Lady reversed an earlier outcome on rival Seduire in the $125,000 Landaluce Stakes (VIDEO) as she romped to victory in her second start June 22 at Santa Anita Park.
The impressive 2-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat drew away from the pacesetting Seduire in the stretch to win by 6 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:03.94 for 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track. The clocking was .34 of a second faster than males ran a race earlier in the Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes.
Bob Baffert, earning his fourth victory in the Landaluce, trains Enchanting Lady for Kaleem Shah. The race, formerly held at Hollywood Park, was contested at Santa Anita for the first time Sunday.
Enchanting Lady was purchased for $650,000 on behalf of Shah from consignor Eddie Woods at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2014 March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training. The lanky dark bay filly was originally bought for $90,000 by Eddie Kenneally, agent, at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Paramount Sales for breeders Randal Family Trust.
Seduire upset 2-5 favorite Enchanting Lady when the two fillies debuted at Santa Anita May 22, winning by 1 1/2 lengths in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight tilt in front-running style. Enchanting Lady broke a bit slowly that day and bettors gave her a second chance with the added distance in the Landaluce field of nine, sending her off at 13-10. Seduire was pegged at 9-5 and everyone else in the field was at double-digit odds.
"I was surprised she got beat the first time out," said Baffert. "But her last race really woke her up and she's been training really well. She was pretty sharp. She ran like I thought. You're always hoping they do something like that."
Once again, Enchanting Lady, breaking from the far outside under Martin Garcia, bobbled at the start but rushed up quickly as Seduire, racing a bit off the rail for Corey Nakatani, sped to the early lead. Seduire led Enchanting Lady by a length through a brisk opening quarter mile of :21.67 and maintained her edge through a half-mile in a swift :45.05.
Enchanting Lady made her bid on the outside rounding the turn, taking over heading into the stretch. She gradually pulled away to lead by two lengths mid-stretch and easily extended her advantage over the tiring pacesetter in the final furlong under steady handling from Garcia late.
"Her last time out, it was too short for her," Garcia said. "I had the outside post in here so I could do what I wanted and pick the best position for her. I just started chasing the filly on the lead and when I asked her, she just took off. She's a really good filly."
Seduire was 3 1/4 lengths clear in second, with California-bred My Fiona rallying mildly for third under Fernando Perez. The came Morning Coffee, Abets Abet, Sea Mona, Lanie Britt, Robo Girl, and Saturday Yodeler.
"We just got outrun by a better filly today," said Nakatani of the runner-up. "She was a little green changing leads. She'll improve off this."
Enchanting Lady is out of unraced A.P. Baby, by A.P. Indy, and was bred in Kentucky by the Randal Family, with R. David and Marylyn Randal trustees. The filly's third dam is multiple graded stakes winner Corrazona, by El Gran Senor, winner of the 1994 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IT). Enchanting Lady is the first winner from two starters for her dam.
Carrying 118 pounds, four fewer than Seduire, Enchanting Lady paid $4.60, $2.40, and $2.40 as she increased her earnings to $86,200. Seduire, settling for second for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, returned $2.80 and $2.60, and completed a chalky $9.60 exacta. My Fiona paid $3.60.
Enchanting Lady wins the Landaluce Stakes.
Benoit Photography