Tranquility Lake defended her title in the Palomar.
Tranquility Lake made her return to turf a winning one with a one-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT). The 6-year-old daughter of Rahy completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.94 on firm turf in winning the race for the second straight year.Tout Charmant tracked the winner in second position until getting pinched back leaving the backstretch as Histoire Sainte moved up on the outside to challenge the leader. Under Eddie Delahoussaye, Tranquility Lake shook loose from Histoire Sainte and then held off the closers to earn the $90,000 winner's share of the purse."I never hit her and I never thought about it," said Delahoussaye. "I showed her the stick a little bit, but that was all she needed. She was giving her best. When Corey's mare (Corey Nakatani on Histoire Sainte) came up along side me, my mare really started to go. But it was time to go. We'd gotten away with such an easy half I knew they were going to come press me. But she was up to it. Turf or dirt, it doesn't matter with this mare. She runs good on both. It's pretty simple: she's so much better than those other horses."La Ronge finished second, a half-length ahead of Al Desima. Histoire Sainte, Tout Charmant, and High Walden completed the order of finish.The win is the 11th in 25 career starts for Tranquility Lake and her sixth graded stakes win on turf. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's Julio Canani trainee also owns a graded stakes win on the main track, that coming in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) last month. Tranquility Lake is out of Winters' Love, by Danzig, and was bred in Kentucky by North Central Bloodstock.Tranquility Lake returned $3.60, $2.40, and $2.20 and led a $1 exacta worth $9.30. La Ronge paid $4.40 and $3. Al Desima was worth $3.60 to show. (Chart, Equibase)
