From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2023) — Longshot Daddysruby won a head-bob by a desperate nose over Big Pond in a thrilling duel of California-breds for the prestigious $300,000 Grade I La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Daddysruby is the first graded winner by Canadian stallion Frac Daddy, out of the You and I mare Youtheprizeandi, was bred by Jethorse, is owned by Jethorse, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber and is trained by Peter Miller.
“We knew from the inside that we would have to go,” said Miller. I was hoping for an outside draw, but I drew the two hole when I listened in. We knew she had a lot of speed and we knew he kind of had to go. I told Juan, ‘Help her away from there, if they go crazy, she doesn’t need the lead you can sit, but if you can get the lead take it.’ And he did.
“You don’t remember all the photo finishes that you won, you remember all the ones that you’ve lost, so I’m sitting here thinking I lost another one. Another C Z Rocket in the Santa Anita Sprint and another Reneesgotzip in the Santa Anita Oaks, here we go again. I just sat up there and waited for the steward’s decision.”
Daddysruby was making her first stakes start and has five wins in six starts. With the La Brea winner’s share of $180,000, Daddysruby more than doubled her earnings to $352,014.
“That was a close one, I didn’t know who got it,” said Barber. “It was really tough, it looked like we were going to come second but winning like that it’s thrilling and we’re very happy. There are a lot of options for her. She is just all heart, and she was just a warrior today. There’s nothing better than winning a Grade I, on opening day. We put a lot of money into this game and these are the moments we want to enjoy and share the victory with all of the partners and friends.”
Quick from her rail post position, Daddysruby was able to open up a critical two-length advantage on Big Pond three furlongs from home. Although a length clear at the sixteenth pole, fatigue set-in and Daddysruby just managed to stave off a determined challenge from the legendary Frankie Dettori aboard the runner-up.
Off at 6-1 in a field of nine sophomore fillies, Daddysruby paid $14.20, $6.20 and $4.20. She ran the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.06.
Owned by breeder Jethorse, LLC, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, Daddysruby, who is headquartered at San Luis Rey Downs and
In a huge effort, Tim Yakteen’s Big Pond, a winner versus statebreds of the seven furlong Fleet Treat Stakes this past July at Del Mar, was off at 5-1 and paid $5.40 and $3.60 while finishing four lengths in front of well fancied Clearly Unhinged.
Live racing resumes on Friday with first post time for a nine-race card at 12:30 p.m.