She’s a Warrior registers front-running win at Santa Anita

Under the skillful guidance of Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, C R K Stable’s She’s a Warrior registered a front-running 1 ¼ length win in Friday’s $58,000 Santa Anita allowance feature. Trained by Peter Eurton, the 4-year-old Majestic Warrior filly covered a flat mile in 1:38.03.

Idle since Oct. 2, She’s a Warrior was the longest shot in a field of four older fillies and mares at 7-1 and paid $16.40 and $4.00, with no show wagering.

“Pete said, ‘I don’t know where you’re gonna be (early),’ and I said, ‘I don’t either. Maybe I’ll be fourth,’” related Stevens, who ended up showing the way through pedestrian splits of 24.35, 48.79, 1:13.55 and 1:25.70. “I knew that she had worked really well the other day and she ran to that work here.”

Third as a maiden with Stevens to superstar Songbird a year ago in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, She’s a Warrior appears headed back to stakes competition as she improved her overall mark to 11-2-3-4. With the winner’s share of $34,800, she increased her earnings to $205,745.

Ridden vigorously by Rafael Bejarano the final five sixteenths of a mile, Faithfully outran favored Lunar Empress by 2 ¼ lengths while making no impression on the winner. Off at 7-5, Faithfully paid $3.20 to place.

Lunar Empress, off at 4-5 with Norberto Arroyo, Jr., had no apparent excuses in finishing third, three lengths in front of Enduring Erin.