19 Abr. USA. Santa Barbara H. G2. Santa Anita Park. 10f. Turf. 200.000 $
1.- FOXYSOX (V.Espinoza)
2.- BLACK MAMBA (J.Valdivia Jr.)
3.- I CAN SEE (J.Court)


Multiple graded stakes winner Foxysox (GB) gained command with a determined stretch rally and edged Black Mamba (NZ) by a nose to win the $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Stalking the pace from three wide, Foxysox raced in third through early stretch. Seizing command past midstretch, Foxysox gamely gave trainer Carla Gaines her sixth stakes win of the Santa Anita meet.

“Carla’s so hot right now, you’re confident when you ride for her,” jockey Victor Espinoza said. “You feel like you’re not going to run out of horse.”

Forest Melody opened a one-length lead through six furlongs in 1:12.07 and led 2.20-to-1 favorite Double Trouble (Brz) by a head in early stretch. Foxysox closed to within about a half-length of the lead in early stretch, unleashed a determined three-wide bid, and won the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:00.45 on firm turf.

Multiple Grade 2-placed Black Mamba settled for second after being blocked by foes approaching the stretch and in early stretch. Stakes winner I Can See finished third, a nose behind Black Mamba.

Warren Williamson’s Foxysox was winless in her previous five starts and entered off a fourth-place finish in the Santa Ana Handicap (G2) on March 23 at Santa Anita. The Foxhound mare opened her season with consecutive third-place finishes at the Arcadia, California, track in the Paseana Handicap on January 14 and the Wishing Well II Handicap on February 10.

Foxysox posted her sixth win in 20 starts and increased her earnings to $596,718. The chestnut mare is out of Triple Tricks, by Royal Academy.