Proud Vixen Prevails at Santa Anita

Proud Vixen prevailed by 2 ¼ lengths over stable-mate Buckingham Bull in taking Friday’s $58,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.78 under Corey Nakatani.

Trained by Vladimir Cerin, Proud Vixen was a close fourth after the first half mile, took the lead from pacesetting Buckingham Bull while three-wide turning for home and withstood a stout challenge from the runner-up before inching clear inside the sixteenth pole.

“She’s got a lotta heart,” said Cerin.  “She’s been trying to beat Buckingham Bull for a long time and she finally did it today.  They’ve been stable-mates for quite a while and they both try very hard.  This is my last starter of the meet.  If she comes out of this okay and there’s a race for her at Los Alamitos, we’ll probably go ahead and run.”

Off at 5-1 in a field of five, she paid $13.40, $4.80 and $5.40.  A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Proud Citizen, Proud Vixen is owned by David and Holly Wilson and she improved her record to 12-2-1-3.  With the winner’s share of $34,800, she hiked her earnings to $97,790.

“She’s finally coming into her own and she ran a big race,” said Nakatani.  “Vladimir had her spot-on today.”

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Buckingham Bull finished a length in front of longshot Melanistic.  She  was off at 9-2 and paid $4.80 and $3.80.

Off at 16-1 and ridden by Agapito Delgadillo, Melanistic sat second early and was no match for the top two.  She paid $7.60 to show.

Heavily favored Sweetrayofsunshine, off at 4-5 with Martin Garcia up, was third at the rail passing the half mile pole, but was shuffled back to last into the far turn and was eased late.

Fractions on the race were 23.64, 47.64, 1:11.73 and 1:37.75.