30 Mzo. USA. Santa Paula S. G3. Santa Anita Park. 6,5f. AW. 100.000 $
1.- LETHAL HEAT (G.Olguin)
2.- P.S.U. GRAD (M.Baze)
3.- HIGHLAND TORREE (C.Nakatani)


Lethal Heat is undefeated in three career starts after she gamely scored a 1 3/4-length win in the $108,500 Santa Paula Stakes (G3) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park.

Progressing to stakes company after maiden and allowance victories on turf, the Unusual Heat filly was settled into ideal stalking position in fifth, then fourth by Canadian-based jockey Gerry Olguin in her main-track debut.

Peisinoe set an uncontested pace for the opening quarter in :21.85, tracked by 7-to-5 favorite Lovely Isle. Peisinoe continued to lead the field of seven three-year-old fillies through a half-mile in :44.61 as Dawn Before Dawn moved up to challenge.

As the field turned for home, Lethal Heat and Olguin advanced along the outside in second, only a head behind Peisinoe. Lethal Heat dug in gamely to overtake that foe near the eighth pole and prevailed under urging while completing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.91 on the refurbished synthetic surface.

“She’s getting better and better every time she runs,” said Olguin, who is scheduled to leave California on Monday for the upcoming season at Woodbine. “When I pushed the button she went. I knew when I kissed to her she was going to kick on and she did. I hope I can come back [from Toronto] and ride her next time she runs.”

P. S. U. Grad rallied three wide in the stretch to finish second, a half-length in front of Highland Torree. Peisinoe finished fourth, followed by Lovely Isle.

Trained by Barry Abrams, who co-owns the bay filly with co-breeder Madeline Auerbach, Lethal Heat entered off a 1 ¾-length victory in a 6 ½-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on March 20 after winning her debut by a nose on March 1, both at Santa Anita.

Bred in California, Lethal Heat is out of multiple stakes winner Lethal Leta, by Synastry, and is a half sister to stakes winner Prevalent. The win boosted her lifetime earnings to $146,220.