Fantastic Style Holds Off Majestic Presence

Pressured early by longshot Lady Lake, heavily favored Fantastic Style held off the late charge of Majestic Presence to win Thursday’s $58,000 “Bean Bag” allowance feature at Santa Anita by a head while covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.23.  Ridden by Martin Garcia and trained by Bob Baffert, Fantastic Style followed up on a three length maiden win on Jan. 19 and notched her second win in three career starts for owner Kaleem Shah, Inc.

"I wanted to put her in a stake that was longer, but this race filled so I put her in here,” said Baffert.  “I was going to run her in the Santa Ysabel on Saturday, but I needed to run my other filly (Enchanting Lady)…I think this filly will go a mile, that way she doesn’t have to go too fast early on.”

Off at 1-2 in a field of six sophomore fillies, Fantastic Style, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, paid $3.00, $2.10 and $2.10.  The winner’s share of $34,800 increased her earnings to $79,600.

The second choice at 5-2, Majestic Presence, who took blinkers off following a fourth place run in the Grade I Las Virgenes Stakes Jan. 31, mounted a furious stretch rally from last and just missed while finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Lady Lake.  Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Majestic Presence paid $2.80 and $2.20.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Lady Lake, who pressed the winner through splits of 22.68, 45.75 and 1:09.73, finished 4 ¾ lengths clear of Tall and Sweet and paid $3.00 to show.

First post time for an eight-race card on Friday at Santa Anita is at 1 p.m.  Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

Source: Santa Anita Park