Zayat Stables' Baroness Thatcher, running for the first time for trainer Patrick Biancone, took advantage of a stalking trip under Garrett Gomez to win the $108,200 Santa Ysabel (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park Saturday.
In her first start since finishing sixth, beaten nearly 13 lengths in the Pocahontas (gr. III) at Churchill Downs Oct. 29, Baroness Thatcher was able to settle in third while tracking a moderate pace for Gomez, who rode the chestnut daughter of Johannesburg to her only prior win. That was a five-length maiden score over seven furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 7 when she was part of Dale Romans' stable.
Saturday, she came off the rail entering the far turn to run past the heavy choice, Mistical Plan mid-stretch, then held off Runway Rosie while tiring a bit late for a half-length victory. The final time for the 1 1/16-mile distance was a slow 1:44 1/5.
The winner carried 114 pounds, eight fewer than the high-weighted Runway Rosie.
"She’s not very big, but she’s got a big heart," said Gomez, who also rode Runway Rosie in each of her two previous starts but switched to Baroness Thatcher on the advice of his agent, Ron Anderson. "It worked out good for us.”
Biancone was in Kentucky Saturday. The winning owner is Ahmed Zayat of Hackensack, N.J.
The stalking Runway Rosie, coming off a 10th-place finish in the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I), ran on nicely to be a clear second under Richard Migliore. Mistical Plan and Corey Nakatani, finished 5 1/2 lengths farther back in third, with pacesetter Seaside Affair fourth.
Seaside Affair led through fractions of :23 1/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 4/5 while pressed by Mistical Plan, with Baroness Thatcher a couple of lengths behind. She bid three wide to get the lead and was under strong urging to get the job done.
Baroness Thatcher has two wins in five starts and earned $64,920 for her connections. She has banked $107,523 in her brief career. Sally Anderson bred Baroness Thatcher, who is out of the Gulch mare Natkeeta, in Kentucky. The filly was a $130,000 2-year-old purchase in May.
Second choice in a field of seven, she paid $8.60, $4.80, and $3.
Runway Rosie, winner of the Sharp Cat at Hollywood Park Nov. 5, returned $6.20 and $3.20. Mistical Plan, sent off at odds of 6-5, was $2.40 to show.
Seaside Affair was followed by Adoradora, Setafire, and Back in the Shade. Kimmy Potter and Le Cirque scratched.
(Chart, Equibase)