Spring Lily upsets Selcourt in Santa Anita's Kalookan Queen

Pam and Martin Wygod’s homebred Spring Lily pulled off a major upset on Sunday at Santa Anita, as she took the $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at odds of 16-1, as 1-5 favorite Selcourt finished 2 ¼ lengths back in second. 

Ridden by Evin Roman and trained by John Shirreffs, Spring Lily, a 4-year-old filly by Union Rags, out of the Bertrando mare Taro, got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.55.

Breaking alertly from post position two in a field of five older fillies and mares, Spring Lily was collared by the favorite a quarter mile out and it appeared she’d be running for second money. However, when Selcourt drifted out turning for home, it seemed to embolden Spring Lily and she quickly regained the advantage leaving the three sixteenths pole en route to an impressive victory.

“This filly likes to be head and head,” said Shirreffs. “She battles back. She doesn’t give it up... You have to take it away from her. I could see down the backside that it looked like Evin had her into the bridle, which was encouraging. Whenever Evin has ridden her, she’s been forwardly placed.”

A close third in a 6 ½ furlong allowance at Del Mar on Nov. 16, Spring Lily paid $34.80, $6.20 and $3.80.

In garnering her first stakes win, Spring Lily now has four wins from nine starts and with the winner’s share of $45,720, she now has earnings of $147,075.

“When Selcourt drifted out, we stayed inside and my filly finished very strong,” said Roman. “She tries very hard.”

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Selcourt bobbled at the break, dueled three-wide of the winner and eventual fourth place finisher Lake Time into and around the far turn and finished 3 ¾ lengths in front of Tyfosha while paying $2.10 and $2.10.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Tyfosha was unhurried early and was easily third, finishing 2 ¾ lengths clear of Lake Time. Off at 16-1, Tyfosha paid $4.20 to show.