From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 11, 2016)–The longest shot in the field at 21-1, Poshsky, under Fernando Perez, looped the field turning for home and held off favored Alert Bay to win Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Santa Anita by a neck. Trained by Peter Miller and saddled by his chief assistant, Ruben Albarado, Poshky covered one mile on turf in 1:35.77.
With longshot Spirit Rules setting a fast pace, Poshsky, who broke from the rail in a field of six older California-bred or sired horses, was last but on the move into the far turn, wheeled four-wide turning for home and was all-out to outrun the favorite who battled back gamely at the rail.
“He was back with Cal-breds and I think that was the key,” said Albarado. “He likes this track and we knew there was speed in the race, so we just told Fernando to sit back and he’ll run big. He rode the horse perfect. No questions asked. Poshsky has always been a nice horse. He tries. We knew we had a good shot.”
Bred by Old English Rancho and Berumen and winless in six starts since taking the Grade III Berkley Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 29, Poshky paid $44.00, $9.60 and $4.00. Owned by Gary Barber, Silver Ranch Stable and Wachtel Stable, the 6-year-old gelding by Vronsky improved his overall mark to 29-7-3-1. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $412,890.
“I knew we would be in trouble if I couldn’t get him to relax,” said Perez, who was aboard Poshsky for the first time in the Crystal Water. “I had a really good trip. We broke well and I was able to have him relax and sit behind the speed. I went to the outside and we made it.”
A winner of the Grade III San Francisco Mile on April 30, Alert Bay moved into second position leaving the half mile marker under Tyler Baze, took command leaving the quarter pole while between the pacesetter and second choice, Ashleyluvssugar, but couldn’t repel the well timed surge of the winner and finished second, three quarters of length clear of “Ashley.”
Hammered down to even money, Alert Bay paid $3.00 and $2.40.
“I was sitting right where I wanted until Bejarano (Rafael, aboard Ashleyluvssugar) moved at the five eighths pole,” said Baze. “When he moved, he made me move. You can’t make a five eighths mile move and go on and win. I tried to give him a little breather around the turn but…
“He ran hard. He’s such a nice horse. He always gives it to you and we’re proud of him.”
Idle since this past August, Ashleyluvssugar finished third, 2 ¼ lengths in front of Zinvor. The second choice at 2-1, Ashleyluvssugar paid $2.80 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.55, 46.16, 1:10.72 and 1:23.25.
Named for Mrs. Connie M. Ring’s homebred winner of the 1977 Santa Anita Handicap, the Crystal Water Stakes is part of the Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.