Repository won a pace battle with betting favorite Paga and held off the flying Brocky's Dream to earn a half-length victory Wednesday in the $80,400 Winter Solstice Stakes on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park.
Ridden by Pat Valenzuela, the meet's leading rider, Repository ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill course in 1:12.41 and paid $12.60, $6.60 and $3.40. D. Wayne Lukas is the trainer for Rafter L Stables. It was the first stakes win of the meet and the 103rd at Santa Anita for Lukas. Only Charlie Whittingham (204) and Ron McAnally (105) have won more added-money events at Santa Anita Park.
Brocky's Dream, with Alex Solis aboard at 122 pounds, rallied strongly from dead last after a slow break to finish second and returned $6.40 and $3.40. Paga, Mike Smith riding at 115 pounds, pressed Repository from start to finish, but weakened slightly to finish third and paid $3.20 for show.
Repository opened a clear lead down the hillside course, setting fractional times of :21.13, :43. 06 and 1:06.10. She responded gamely when challenged by Paga, and then was all-out to rebuff Brocky's Dream.
A 5-year-old Florida-bred by Ocala Slew, Repository has a 7-4-3 record from 25 starts with $234,468 in earnings. The victory broke a five-race losing streak dating back to May 2 and a victory in the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Earlier on the card, Santa Catarina made her 2003 debut with an easy victory in a one-mile allowance race for 3-year-old fillies. Making her first start since a third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) on Oct. 26, Santa Catarina ran the mile in 1:37.69 and paid $2.60. Gary Stevens rode the winner for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Bob and Beverly Lewis.
(Chart, Equibase)