From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2024) — Veteran trainer Gary Stute won his first race of the Classic Meet and breeder Derek Lawson also enjoyed a lucrative payday Sunday when the 3-year-old filly Safa won Sunday’s fourth race, a six-furlong maiden race for California-breds.
Bet down to the 1-2 favorite, the daughter of Grazen blitzed the field by nine lengths under Tiago Pereira to earn her diploma. For Lawson, the victory was doubly sweet. Not only did Lawson breed Safa from his broodmare Hadarra, by Harlan’s Holiday, he also serves as Pereira’s agent.
“It was a good day certainly,” Lawson said Sunday morning. “Gary did a great job to have the filly ready and Tiago got her home.”
Safa was just the second horse to start at the Classic Meet for Stute. His first starter, Divine Feminine, ran second on Friday in a $10,000 claiming race.
Lawson said Hadarra, a five-time winner on the track, is his only broodmare. Of her three foals of racing age, all have won.
“It’s a little project for me, a hobby,” Lawson said.
Hadarra has a yearling full sister to Safa as well as a 2-year-old filly by Stanford who Lawson said will be sold Jan. 30 at the CTBA Winter Mixed Sale in nearby Pomona.
Hadarra is currently in foal to California-based stallion Halladay, who stands at Harris Farms for an advertised fee of $7,500.