Customer Base Relishes Ten Panels at BHP

Customer Base relished a stretch to 1 ¼ miles, defeating stablemate Midnight Music and four others in the $72,350 Lucie Manet Stakes Friday night at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Racing beyond 8 ½ furlongs for the first time in her career, the 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid filly sat well off the pace set by runaway leader Little Emily, took over from Miss Pippa with about a sixteenth of a mile remaining and held the 8-5 favorite safe.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Customer Base, who is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Little Cat Feet, completed the trip on turf in 2:01.97. The 1 ½-length win was her fourth in 13 starts for Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor. The dark bay has earned $211,482.

Third in the Great Lady M. Stakes May 26 and second in the Redondo Beach June 9 in her first two appearances of the Spring/Summer meet, Customer Base paid $8.60, $4.60 and $2.60 as the 3-1 third choice.

Making her initial start in California after finishing third in her United States debut in the $62,000 Keertana Stakes May 18 at Churchill Downs, Midnight Music finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of 2-1 second choice Miss Pippa.

Currently in foal to former Australian champion Lonhro, Midnight Music, a 5-year-old, Irish-bred daughter of Dubawi, paid $3.20 and $2.20. The show price on Miss Pippa was $2.40.

“They both ran great,’’ said Proctor. “(Smith) just had a little more horse power. It’s nice to see this filly get a stakes win. She’d been second and third a couple of times. (Midnight Music) is also a quality mare.’’

Completing the order of finish were Little Emily, who had a seven-length advantage after the opening half-mile, Madera Castana and Caelis, who was pulled up on the backstretch by jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Third in the Grade II Santa Barbara Handicap April 20 at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old Avonbridge mare was vanned off with an apparent injury to her left front leg.