Shining Energy, the 9-5 favorite for trainer Julio Canani, kicked home powerfully in the stretch of Santa Anita's hillside turf course, coasting to victory in the $111,400 La Habra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday.
It was the first stakes win for Shining Energy and the Kentucky-bred filly is two-for-two in the United States after going winless in her first four starts in France. Ridden by Rene Douglas, Shining Energy was seventh in the early going as Kohar and rider M.C. Baze opened a healthy lead on the field. Shining Energy nearly got stuck behind a checking Royal Wave approaching the stretch, but got by and broke free of the field to win by 2 ¾ lengths. She covered about 6 ½ furlongs in 1:13.61 and paid $5.60, $4.20 and $3.20. "When I got through it was all over," said Douglas, who won his 42nd race of the meet and is one behind leading rider Tyler Baze. Several horses vied for second, with 30-1 long shot Kohar ($18, $8) nosing out Berbatim ($4.20) and Royal Wave ($3.40), who finished in a dead heat for third. No Bull Baby, Royal Copenhagen, Revealed, Coastal Strike and Kash Klip completed the order of finish. Feel the Heat and Island Escape scratched.Shining Energy, a daughter of Rahy from the Irish mare Miss Universal, has a record of 2-2-1 from six starts. Both of her victories for owners Bernie Shiappa of Las Vegas and Terry Lanni of Pasadena have come on the hillside at Santa Anita. The filly earned $66,840 for Sunday's victory, taking her career total to $115,610.
(Chart, Equibase)