La Tia Unstoppable in Arlington Matron

Hernandez Racing Club’s La Tia, a longtime Arlington International Racecourse favorite, again showed her affinity for the local Polytrack with an emphatic front-running 6½-length victory in the Grade III $150,000 Arlington Matron, covering the mile and an eighth in 1:49.66.

With E. T. Baird in the irons aboard the 5-year-old mare for the first time, the Armando De La Cerda-trained daughter of City Place set measured fractions of 24.14 seconds, 48.07 seconds, 1:12.17 and 1:36.67 en route to the facile score, her seventh in 16 trips to the post.  She earned $87,300 for the victory to push her career bankroll past the half-million dollar mark to $528,382.

“(There was) a little bit (of early pressure from Awesome Flower) but it wasn’t anything she was unable to handle,” Baird said.  “I had her well in hand. Armando told me she was a kind filly and that she would pretty much do what I wanted her to do. He was exactly right.  It was a pretty good feeling (when she kicked it into another gear).”

There were some anxious moments for La Tia and her connections prior to the race when longshot Naples Gold had to return to the paddock for a shoe repair necessitating a 12-minute delay in the start of the race as the rest of the field circled behind the starting gate with their riders off.

“(The delay for the shoe repair on the other horse concerned me) because she just ran two weeks ago and is a bit hyper,” De La Cerda said.  “I thought she might lose her energy, but she was okay.”

Awesome Flower and Frivolous tracked the winner throughout with the latter overtaking the former in deep stretch.

“I had her in the right spot but couldn’t quicken with the winner late,” said James Graham, who rode the runner-up.

Ambusher, Moment in Dixie, I Dazzle, Heart of Destiny and Naples Gold completed the order of finish.

Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, La Tia paid $5.20, $3.0 and $3.  Frivolous returned $4.20 and $3.  Awesome Flower paid $3.60.