Enchanting Lady Easily Best in Santa Anita Feature

Idle since July 4, owner Kaleem Shah’s classy Enchanting Lady took charge a quarter mile from home and went on to an emphatic 4 ¼ length win in Thursday’s $60,000 allowance feature at Santa Anita as she negotiated 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.18 under Martin Garcia.

Trained by Bob Baffert and breaking from post position four in a field of seven older fillies and mares, Enchanting Lady sat a close second to longshot Codacious before asserting her superiority midway around the far turn.

“She’s pretty fast,” said Baffert.  “She can come from off the pace, but she was pretty ready today.  She’s coming back very well.  You could just tell she was in control the whole way…Right now, I’ll just keep her healthy and find something for her.  We might try to shoot for the Humana Distaff (Grade I, seven furlongs on May 7) at Churchill Downs or something like that.”

Off at even money, Enchanting Lady, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Tale of the Cat, paid $4.20, $3.20 and $2.10. 

A two-time minor stakes winner at Santa Anita, Enchanting Lady was most recently second in the Grade III, 6 ½ furlong Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park.  With Thursday’s win, she improved her overall mark to 8-3-3-0.  With the winner’s share of $36,000, she increased her earnings to $232,280.

Trained by Eddie Truman, Pica was a close third around the far turn and was a game second, finishing a half length in front of Finest City.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, Pica was off at 15-1 and paid $9.40 and $4.00.

Ridden by apprentice David Lopez, Finest City was third from the top of the lane to the wire, finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of Distinta.  Off at 6-5, Finest City paid $2.20 to show.