From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 22, 2019)–Beaten nearly 40 lengths in her most recent start, trainer Bill Spawr’s Starr of Quality ran down a determined Coco Kisses in deep stretch to take Saturday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Starr of Quality, a 5-year-old California-bred mare by First Dude, got one mile in 1:40.26.
Breaking from post position two in a field of four California-bred or sired fillies and mares, Starr of Quality was in-hand while Coco Kisses, who broke from the outside, worked her way gradually to the lead into the first turn. Starr of Quality eased off the lead a bit turning down the backside, enabling Pereira to shift off the rail, just to the outside of the eventual runner-up.
“This was an easier spot today,” said Pereira, in reference to Starr of Quality’s 38 ¾ length defeat at the hands of Paradise Woods in the Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes here on April 27. “It looked like Coco Kisses was the only speed and that’s the way it worked out. My filly wanted to go at the half mile pole, but we waited and she ran really good. Nice win.”
Named for the James Weigel homebred daughter of Siberian Summer, the Dream of Summer Stakes is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for California-bred or sired horses.
Owned by Tom Acker and Jon Lindo, Starr of Quality was off at 3-5 and paid $3.40 and $2.40 with no show wagering.
Bred in California by Donald R. Dizney, Starr of Quality, who is out of the Gone West mare Gator Blitz, registered her first ever stakes win and improved her overall mark to 23-6-4-6. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she now has earnings of $290,659.
“The race went pretty much as we drew it up on paper,” said Spawr. “We thought Mike (Smith, aboard Coco Kisses) might take the lead and force us to go outside and that’s what happened, but Tiago and I talked about that this morning. Being a short favorite in a small field adds pressure, but we had the best horse and it worked out, so we’re happy.”
The second choice at 2-1, Coco Kisses finished second, 3 ½ lengths in front of Sapphire Kid and paid $3.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 25.25, 49.66, 1:14.33 and 1:26.87.