Seduire Makes the Grade in Santa Ynez
A rousing winner of the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes last time out, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s Seduire was sent from the rail and took her first graded stakes on Saturday, winning the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths under Rafael Bejarano. Off at 4-1 in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies, Seduire negotiated 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.37 while besting longshot Callback, who was ridden by Martin Garcia.
“Seduire broke sharp from the gate,” said Bejarano. “I was hoping she would break sharp because she likes to be on the lead and I had a bad post. She broke well so I took advantage. I got her relaxed and tried to give her a breather. When I felt pressured going into the stretch, I let her go and she showed me a big kick.”
An Ontario, Canadian-bred filly by Elusive Quality and out of the Holy Bull mare Holy Éclair, Seduire picked up her fourth win from seven career starts and paid $10.60, $6.00 and $4.20. Owned by Regis Racing, she bagged $120,000 for the win, hiking her earnings to $262,200.
“Coming from the rail, you don’t really have a lot of choices if you have a speed horse,” said Hollendorfer. “She got lucky and got away smoothly. I think the fractions were pretty decent (21.76, 44.25 and 1:08.73). We might stretch her out around two turns. I take them one at a time.”
(The Santa Ynez was Hollendorfer’s third graded stakes and fourth overall stakes win of the seven-day meet which opened on Dec. 26).
Breaking from post position two, Callback sat a close fourth at the rail approaching the quarter pole and proved second-best while a bit erratic late. Installed as the co-second choice on the morning line at 4-1, Callback finished 4 ¾ lengths in front of Xoxo. An astonishing overlay at 17-1, Callback paid $13.40 and $7.40.
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Xoxo was a close second into and around the turn and finished 2 ½ lengths clear of Lady Lake. Xoxo paid $7.80 to show.
Source: Santa Anita Communications