From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2019) – Making her first start over the track where she is stabled, Cholula Lips, a graduate of the CTBA January Mixed Sale, scored a decisive victory in the $101,053 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Los Alamitos.
After tracking the early pace set by 187-1 outsider Phoenix Tears, the daughter of Empire Way took over with a little over a quarter of a mile to run and went on to win by three lengths under jockey Tyler Baze.
An 8-1 shot owned by Amanda Navarro and breeder Terry Lovingier and trained by Mike Harrington, Cholula Lips completed the mile in 1:37.85 in a race restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California.
Out of the Rio Verde mare Sweet Lips Pooh, Cholula Lips paid $18.40, $6.80 and $5.60 while winning for the second time in seven starts. The $57,000 payday pushed her bankroll to $159,250.
“(Baze) rode a heckuva race,’’ said Harrington. “He said he could have gone to the lead sooner with her than he did. It came out just like we drew it up and how often does that happen?
“I thought she would run well, but (Been Studying Her, who finished fourth as the 2-5 favorite) had beaten her twice, so you have to think about that, but this filly trains super over this track.’’
Smiling Shirlee, the 5-1 second choice in a field reduced to nine after the scratch of Warren’s Showtime, returned $4.60 and $4.60 while the show price on 19-1 shot Warrior’s Moon, who was a nose back of the runner-up, was $10.80.