England's Rose Pulls Off Chaposa Springs Upset

England's Rose rallied from last to win the seven-furlong $100,000 Chaposa Springs Handicap (gr. III) by 1 1/2 lengths over heavy favorite Swept Away Saturday at Calder Race Course. Jockey John Velazquez settled the 3-year-old filly early on and rolled by Swept Away and Sugar N Spice as those two dueled in the stretch. The longest shot on the board at nearly 17-1, England's Rose paid $35, $6.60, and $2.10 and stopped the timer in 1:24.82.

England's Rose had won in her only other attempt at seven furlongs, winning an allowance race on a sloppy track at Calder in June. Swept Away also retained a sort of perfection in seven-furlong races, finishing second as the favorite for the third time in three races -- all stakes -- at the distance. The 1-2 favorite, Swept Away returned $2.40 and $2.10 and completed an exacta worth $79.20. Sugar N Spice paid $2.10 for finishing third and was followed by Awful Smart, Miss Inquisitive, and Gather the Day.

England's Rose (Nureyev -- Infringe, by Irish River) began her career in turf allowance races at Gulfstream Park before switching to maiden races on the main track in March. After winning in her second attempt against maidens, she was switched back to the turf for one race. Back on dirt, she won three of her next five races, including the Lady Sonata after it was taken off the turf. In her most recent start prior to the Chaposa Springs, she finished ninth in the Calder Oaks on a turf course listed as "good."

Bred in Kentucky by R.E. Hibbert, England's Rose is owned by D.W. Hutson and trained by Martin Wolfson. England's Rose earned $60,000 for the win, her fifth in 12 races, to nearly double her career earnings.

"I wanted to win the Chaposa Springs so much," said Wolfson, who trained Chaposa Springs throughout her career. "This is great, particularly since this race was this filly's last. She'll be sold at Keeneland next Thursday. She'll be on a van Monday. I've had her three years. When I got her, I thought she was bred as well for grass as any horse you could have, but she just hated it. Most of her dirt races have been very good. When she was fourth to Swept Away (Azalea in July) the track was a sloppy mess and she was just sliding all over the place. When she got beat by Sugar N Spice (in the Sigrun) she was up on a half-mile pace in :44 and change and that wasn't her game either." (Chart, Equibase)