Already a stakes winner on dirt and grass, Stays in Vegas reached another level May 7 in the Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park.
The 3-year-old City Zip filly earned her first graded stakes win Saturday by outdueling favored Be Mine to the wire to win by a head. The top pair hooked up head-and-head at the top of the stretch after pacesetter Fourth Watch tired and battled to the wire.
Under the guidance of jockey Alex Solis, Stays in Vegas raced about 4 1/2 lengths off Fourth Watch, who set fractions of :23.42 and :47.49 through a half-mile, while Be Mine stalked in between horses.
Solis believed he had to move the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained filly before he had planned, but it ultimately worked out.
"I had to move a little earlier than I wanted, but I didn't want (Be Mine) to get away from me," Solis said. "At the top of the stretch, my filly was very game."
Stays in Vegas finished the mile in 1:37.98 on turf rated good, and paid $7.20, $3.20, and $3 across the board. Be Mine delivered $3.20 and $2.80, and last-to-third closer Sheeza Milky Way brought $4.20 to show.
Last out Providencia (gr. IIIT) winner Decked Out loomed a danger four-wide in the stretch but lacked late kick and finished fourth, followed by Mirage, Fourth Watch, and Compel to complete the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky, out of the Broken Vow mare Double Jackpot, Stays in Vegas—owned by Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, and LNJ Foxwoods—now has a 5-1-0 record in seven starts, with earnings of $295,600.
