Tanda held off favored Switch through the stretch to register her second straight graded stakes victory in the $100,000 Railbird Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) at Hollywood Park May 9.
Ridden to victory by Alex Solis, Tanda completed the 3-year-old filly event in a time of 1:21.93 over the Cushion Track, defeating Switch by a half-length for her third consecutive victory overall. Dan Hendricks trains the 3-year-old daughter of Sweetsouthernsaint--Doc's Stormy Girl, by Dr. Caton, for owner Tommy Hutton's Dream Stable.
Tanda broke slowly from the rail in the seven-furlong event but rushed up along the inside to take command approaching the half-mile pole. She soon led Southern Fireball, who was in front early, by about two lengths, with Crisis of Spirit and Win for M'lou close up through quarter-mile fractions of :23.08 and :45.84.
Rounding the bend, the stalking Switch, the 8-5 favorite, ranged up three wide for jockey Joel Rosario. Under strong right-handed urging through the lane, Switch drew to within a length of the leader leaving the eighth pole, but could get no closer until the last couple of strides. With some left-handed encouragement from Solis, Tanda raced slightly off the rail while holding sway in the final furlong for a determined triumph.
Switch was a clear second by 2 1/4 lengths over All Due Respect, who closed with interest while four paths wide for Rafael Bejarano to grab the show spot by 1 1/4 lengths over Crisis of Spirit.
Solis, a longtime veteran of the Southern California circuit, moved his tack to Kentucky last month but returned to his former haunt to ride Tanda for Hendricks. The Panama native has been aboard the filly in all six of her starts, winning four times and finishing second once.
"She won today because she's a runner, but I think she's capable of better," Solis said. "Right when I got to the five-eighths pole I felt we were going kind of slow, so I though I better get in there and take control of the race and make my own pace. It worked out good for us."
Referring to his return to Hollywood, Solis added, "I'll fly anywhere to ride her, anytime, any place."
Hendricks said Solis handled the pace situation well, considering that they weren't going that fast as he hustled her to the front.
"She's a very nice filly," the trainer said. "I'm very impressed with her."
Tanda was coming off a 4 1/2-length score in the 6 1/2-furlong Santa Paula Stakes (gr. III) over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita March 28. She won an optional claiming allowance race on the Santa Anita turf before that.
Hendricks said he could stay home for the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 6 with Tanda or try the one-mile Acorn Stakes (gr. I) a day earlier at Belmont Park for Tanda's next start.
"It's Belmont (gr. I) weekend, and there's going to be an easy flight there and back with the Belmont horses, so it makes it a lot easier to decide to go to New York for a grade I'" he said. "And what a great progression from 6 1/2 at Santa Anita to seven furlongs here to a one-turn mile there. The progression couldn't be better."
Tanda carried top weight of 121 pounds in the Railbird and gave Switch six pounds. The latter, third in the both the Santa Ynez (gr. II) and Las Virgenes (gr. I) stakes at Santa Anita, was coming off a fourth-place showing in the 1 1/8-mile Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park March 20 for trainer John Sadler.
With $60,000 for the Railbird win, Tanda has now banked $187,710. She has not been off the board since finishing fifth in her debut at Hollywood as a 2-year-old Dec. 11.
Kristine Mitchell bred Tanda in Florida. The bay filly was a $145,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in April 2009.
Sent off as the second choice in the Railbird field of eight, Tanda paid $6, $3.40, and $2.40. Switch returned $2.80 and $2.40 and rounded out a $16.80 exacta. All Due Respect, who lost by a neck in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) in March for trainer Kathy Walsh, was $3.20 to show.
Crisis of Spirit was followed by Vision in Gold, who bobbled and was steadied after the break; Southern Fireball; Seriously; Church Camp; and Win for M'lou. Stockings was scratched.
