From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 24, 2019)–Favored by a mere $104.00, Terry Lovingier’s homebred Show It N Moe It relinquished command a quarter mile out but re-rallied late to take Sunday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes by three quarters of a length under Rafael Bejarano. Trained by Gary Sherlock, the 4-year-old California bred daughter of Grace Upon Grace got six furlongs in 1:10.18.
The Spring Fever is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.
Breaking from the rail, Show It N Moe It broke like a shot and was immediately engaged by Coco Kisses to her outside as S Y Sky, the narrow second choice in the wagering, sat a stalking third. However, heading into the far turn, Show It N Moe It was getting out noticeably and Joe Talamo, aboard S Y Sky, moved to the rail and gained a narrow advantage, only to be tagged in the final 40 yards by the winner.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years and I never like being on the rail,” said Sherlock. “I don’t like the one-hole under any conditions. I think the reason she was getting out there going to the far turn was that she’s never not had a horse inside of her to run with. She overcame it and with her, the results are incredible. We’re hoping to have a big year with her. She ran against older horses last year and now she’s doing so well.”
With $81,900 bet to win on her, Show It N Moe It, who defeated S Y Sky in a state-bred allowance going 6 ½ furlongs by 3 ¼ lengths here on Jan. 10, was the actual even money favorite in a field of five California-bred or sired older fillies and mares and paid $4.00, $2.20 and $2.10.
Owned by Tom London, Lovingier and Eugene Zondlo — and bred by Terry Lovingier — Show It N Moe It, who is out of the Ide mare Robotica, picked up her second stakes win and improved her overall mark to 19-6-4-4. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $435,604.
“She always tries really hard and she always wants to be on the lead,” said Bejarano, who has now ridden her in 10 out of her last 11 starts, winning four of them. “This was the first time she’s ever had to be on the inside though, and she freaked out a little being on the lead down inside…In the beginning, I had to use her a bit and I think six and a half or seven furlongs are better distances for her, but she still got it done.”
Owned and bred by Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, S Y Sky ran a huge race in defeat, finishing 4 ½ lengths in front of Coco Kisses. The second choice at even money, “S Y” paid $2.40 and $2.10.
“The winner was really getting out down the backside, I thought she might bolt,” said Talamo. “I took my filly to the rail and she went right through there, real easy. We were just cruising. Hats off to that other filly, she dug in.”
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Coco Kisses, who dueled early with the winner, was third best on the day. Off at 7-1, she paid $2.20 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.25, 45.63 and 57.58.