Coniah's Las Cienegas run marks Morey's first graded stakes win

By Christine Oser 

Coniah turned in an impressive trip Saturday at Santa Anita Park, wiring the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the turf. The win gave trainer William Morey his first ever graded stakes score.

“I’ve had some hot streaks, but this one will probably top it,” Morey said of his recent success at Santa Anita Park. Morey also scored back-to-back wins, sending Tinabud out to victory in the race prior.

Coniah and jockey Kent Desormeaux went straight to the lead widened the margin margin. The pair set quick opening fractions of :21.78 and :43.89, with Proper Discretion, Princess Princess, Instant Reflex, Bendable, Beau Recall and Anita Partner all giving chase.

By the time she was in the homestretch, Coniah was three lengths in front of the field. The closest to get to her by the end was Bendable, who cut the winning margin down to 1 ¾ lengths. Coniah, who was too far in front, stopped the clock in 1:12.17.

Princess Princess was third, with Beau Recall, Instant Reflex, Anita Partner and Proper Discretion completing the order of finish. Angel Allie and Miss Southern Miss were scratched.

As for how Morey felt about the ride, “Very confident. She looked great out there, and I knew we had Kent in charge, so I felt great.”

The Las Cienegas was the fourth win in 20 starts for Coniah. A homebred for James and Tammy McKenney, she’s earned $295,365 on the track.

Coniah ran second in stakes company three consecutive times last year and has been away from the races since June. Finally, after the layoff, she picked up her first stakes win.

“I didn’t look at the board,” said Morey. “I didn’t look at the fractions. But I knew they had to do some running to catch her.”