From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 15, 2019)–In what must rate as one of the most impressive sprint performances of the Spring Meet, Harris Farms’ homebred Desert Law seized the moment turning for home and marched to an emphatic 6 ¼ length win in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Carla Gaines and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, the 5-year-old Desert Code gelding got six furlongs in a sizzling 1:09.49.
The Thor’s Echo is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for California-bred or sired horses.
Breaking from post position five in a field of six California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up, Desert Law sat an attentive second to speedball Smiling Angelo up the backside and around the far turn and drew even at the quarter pole, whereupon the Thor’s Echo was for all intents and purposes, over.
“He has been training fantastic, he loves the track,” said Gaines. “He’s one of those that just glides over this deeper racetrack. His works have been phenomenal and he’s run out of conditions. The Cal-bred program is great because you are restricted to Cal-breds, so it’s all good!”
Most recently fourth in a 6 ½ furlong open allowance here on May 11, Desert Law was off as the 8-5 favorite and paid $5.40, $2.60 and $2.20.
Out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Treasure Chest, Desert Law, in his first-ever stakes appearance, notched his fifth win from 15 overall starts and with the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $259,707.
“I’ve been working him the last three weeks and he’s been training amazing,” said Bejarano, who notched his 4,000th career win earlier in the day. “I told Carla, anything, six or 6 ½ (furlongs) and he’ll be tough. I thought the speed would go today and it worked out good for us.”
Last heading to the far turn, Coil Me Home rallied for second, finishing 4 ¾ lengths in front of Smiling Angelo. Off at 9-5 with Drayden Van Dyke, Coil Me Home paid $3.00 and $2.20.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Smiling Angelo just held off comebacking Smokey Image by a nose for third money and paid $2.80 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.15, 45.13 and 57.05.