Bob's Lady, the only stakes winner in the field, cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Work The Crowd Handicap at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.
Ridden by Russell Baze, whose main job was to keep his mount from making a premature move, Bob's Lady charged from last in a field of five to win the one-mile feature for California-bred fillies and mares going away in 1:37.66 on a track rated good.
Bob's Lady, a 4-year-old filly by Pirate's Bounty, is trained by John Sadler and owned by her breeder, John Barr's Oakcrest Stable.
"What a nice filly," said Baze of Bob's Lady. "They told me to be patient with her and wait to make my run. John said she'd try to creep up on them on the backstretch but not to let her run. He said she's moved too early before and flattened out on them.
"She was wanting to run (on the backstretch) but I kept a hold of her," Baze continued. "Boy, when I swung her out (on the far turn), it was all over. I just chirped to her to keep running and that's all it took."
Bob's Lady blew by even-money favorite Brite Sunny Day and Power To Burn at the top of the lane and opened up a three-length advantage in midstretch. She steadily increased her margin of victory through the final furlong while receiving merely a hand ride from Baze.
Winner of the CTBA Marian Stakes at Fairplex Park last September, Bob's Lady was the 9-5 second choice in the Work The Crowd and paid $5.60. Brite Sunny Day took second by 2 1/2 lengths over Broke In Blairsden.
Bob's Lady earned $55,000 for the victory, her fourth triumph in 14 career starts. The check boosted her earnings to $156,100.
(Chart,
Equibase)