From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2019)–Favored in six out of her seven lifetime starts but not today, Nick Alexander’s homebred S Y Sky posted an authoritative half-length win as she led throughout in taking Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Ridden by Joe Talamo and trained by Phil D’Amato (who picked up his fourth win on the day), the 5-year-old mare by Grazen, out of Alexander’s Sky Mesa mare Sky Marni, got 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.86.
One of four stakes on Saturday restricted to horses bred or sired in California, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.
Breaking from post six in a field of eight, S Y Sky shot to the lead and was pressured down the hill by eventual runner-up Queen Bee to You, who never threw in the towel.
Second as the 3-5 favorite in a state-bred allowance going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track here Jan. 10, S Y Sky was off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.00, $3.00 and $2.80.
With the winner’s share of $90,000, S Y Sky, who now has two lifetime stakes wins, increased her earnings to $457,320 from an overall mark of 9-5-3-1.
Queen Bee to You, who was ever so gradually getting to the winner on the money, prevailed by two lengths over Fiery Lady for the place. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Queen Bee to You was off at 10-1 and paid $7.80 and $5.80.
Dispatched at 24-1 with Mario Gutierrez up, Fiery Lady finished well on the far outside and ended up a neck in front of Bella Luma while paying $7.60 to show.
Cordiality, who pressed the early pace as the even money favorite, tired late to finish sixth.
Fractions on the race were 22.07, 43.98 and 1:06.48.