From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 12, 2014)—California-bred Tribal Spy benefitted from a fast pace to come rolling late and win Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes by a head under Joe Talamo, covering 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:12.12.
With 7-5 favorite Biorhythm and 5-2 second choice Sky High Gal slugging it out through splits of 21.58, 43.02 and 1:05.86, Talamo sat a comfortable third aboard the Adam Kitchingman-trained daughter of Tribal Rule, overhauled the top two inside the furlong pole and held off a fast finishing Llandudno to just prevail.
Although she was a winner of the state bred Irish O’Brien Stakes down the hill on March 15, Tribal Spy was off at 11-1 and paid $25.60, $10.20 and $5.00.
“We had a perfect trip,” said Talamo. “I was real pleased to see those two fillies on the lead goin’ head and head. They were going pretty quick. So we got a perfect trip. Turning for home, I took her to the outside and she pretty much did the rest.”
A 4-year-old Filly, Tribal Spy is owned by Triple B Farms and has now won three out of her last four starts. The Las Cienegas, which attracted a field of seven older fillies and mares, provided the winner $60,000, increasing her earnings to $298,610. Her overall mark now stands at 15-6-3-1.
“This is what owners look for,” said Paul Boghossian, of Triple B Farms. “We own (California-based stallion) Richard’s Kid too, so we’re going to give her some time and make a decision on breeding her either this year or next year. This is great. She’ perfect now.”
For his part, Kitchingman indicated Tribal Spy would be back in (racing) action soon.
“We’ll probably come back in that 6 ½ down the hill on May 25 (the $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes),” he said. “We’ll rest her up a little bit…let her go swim for a couple weeks and then freshen her up.”
Trainer John Sadler ran one-two with Llandudno and Sky High Gal, with Llandudno and Tyler Baze finishing three quarters of a length in front of her stablemate, who was ridden by Rafael Bejarano.
Off at 11-1, Llandudno paid $10.60 and $5.40.
Sky High Gal, who was intent on applying maximum early pressure to favored Biorhythm and apprentice Drayden Van Dyke, stayed well through the drive to finish a half length in front of the favorite.
Sky High Gal paid $3.40 to show.
Biorhythm, who came off a highly rated allowance score down the hill on March 13, and who was making her stakes debut, was finished a furlong from home.
“She felt fine,” said Van Dyke. “I just went too fast. Once I crossed the dirt, I thought we were home free but then I heard Trevor (Denman) say she was struggling and I saw them coming at me. I thought I had it, but I went too fast.”
For Tribal Spy’s pedigree, click http://www.pedigreequery.com/tribal+spy