Callback resolute in Las Virgenes victory

Sent to the lead, Callback opened up leaving the three furlong pole under Martin Garcia and went on to a hard-fought half length win in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes as she ran a mile in 1:36.92 while outrunning eight rival 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Bob Baffert, lightly raced Callback ran without blinkers for the first time in her four-race career.

“I was just cruising all the way around there,” said Garcia, who has ridden her in all of her starts. “I asked her a little going into the far turn and then again when (second place finisher) Light the City came back at us, she took off. There was no way they were going to go by us. I don’t see why stretching out further would be any problem, she’s a good filly. She can do anything you want.”

The second choice in the wagering at 5-2, Callback paid $7.20, $5.00 and $4.40.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm, Callback, a Kentucky-bred filly by Street Sense, came off a second place finish in the Grade II Santa Ynez and tried two turns for the first time on Saturday. She picked up her second win and with the winner’s share of $180,000, increased her earnings to $245,450.

“We’ve always been pretty high on her,” said Baffert, who also saddled 2-1 favorite Maybellene, who finished eighth with Rafael Bejarano. “They were high on her when they sent her in. I wanted to run one-two. My other filly, she just didn’t kick today…It was nice to get a win for Wayne Hughes. He couldn’t make it today.”

Baffert indicated that Callback would be pointed for the Grade I, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 4, “Unless the earth moves or something.”

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Light the City broke from the far outside and was four-wide into the Club House turn but settled nicely into a good stalking trip down the backside as longshot Suva Harbor pressed the winner to the far turn. Light the City appeared to have Callback measured a furlong out, but was second best, finishing 3 ½ lengths in front of Achiever’s Legacy.

Off at 7-1, Light the City paid $8.20 and $6.20.

“In hindsight, maybe I should’ve switched posts with the winner, then they might have been taking my picture,” said Desormeaux. “I think that situation might have been the difference…She ran an incredible race. I’m thinkin’ she’s got a few Grade I’s with her name on them.”

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Achiever’s Legacy rallied from far off the pace to finish third, 2 ½ lengths in front of Majestic Presence. Achiever’s Legacy paid $6.80 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.89, 46.88, 1:11.42 and 1:24.22.

There is a Pick Six carryover into Sunday of $95,169. Sunday’s total Pick Six pool should exceed $500,000. First post time on Super Bowl Sunday at Santa Anita is at 11 a.m. Admission gates open at 9 a.m.

Source: Santa Anita Communications