Eda, the 19-10 favorite, is now a double graded stakes winner at Los Alamitos after holding off 19-1 shot Chismosa to win the Grade 2, $202,000 Great Lady M. on Tuesday's Independence Day program at the Cypress, Calif., track.
The narrow score came 19 months after a half-length victory in the Grade 1 Starlet during the 2021 Winter meet.
Owned by Baoma Corporation and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Eda, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, hasn't started often, but she has certainly made the most of her opportunities.
The Great Lady M. was her sixth win in a row and seventh in nine career starts and pushed her earnings to $592,600.
Positioned just outside 2-1 second choice Elm Drive for most of the journey, Eda, who is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Show Me, got the best of that rival deep in the stretch, then withstood the rally of Chismosa to prevail by a neck.
She completed 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.06 and returned $5.80, $4.40 and $3. Chismosa, who has three wins and a second in four races around one turn, paid $13.80 and $7 while finishing a neck in front of Elm Drive. The show price on Elm Drive, who also finished third in the 2022 Great Lady M., was $2.80.
Jockey Juan Hernandez, who has won both of the stakes races offered through the first seven days of the Los Angeles County Fair meet – he took the Bertrando with Kings River Knight June 24 – is now 4-for-4 aboard Eda.
“She broke quick and I let her get comfortable,'' said Hernandez. “When she started to feel the pressure she knew it was time to go. When she saw (Chismosa) on the outside she didn't want to get passed.
“She was very game and showed a lot of heart.''
The latest Great Lady M. success was the fifth for Baffert since daytime Thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014. His other wins were with Fantastic Style (2015), Marley's Freedom (2018-2019) and Gamine (2021).
“She's a fighter,'' said Baffert assistant Mike Marlow. “She showed that today, that's for sure.
“(Chismosa) made us work there at the finish. She's nice. She's good. That's six in a row. It's been over a period of time, but she's solid.
“I think she really likes what she's doing. She's matured and gotten a little stronger from last year.''
Jockey Edwin Maldonado tripled Monday, closing to within four wins of leader Martin Pedroza for most daytime thoroughbred victories at Los Alamitos.
Maldonado swept the early double with House of Magic in the first and Sunshine Journey in the second, then won the fifth aboard Mister Bold. He now has 123 local wins. Most of Pedroza's 127 victories came during the Orange County Fair meets between 1977-1991.
Ramon Vazquez, who led all three daytime meets last year, also had three wins Tuesday. He captured Races 6-8 with, respectively, Wegonahavagoodtime, Equipo A and My Destiny.
Heading into the final two days of the LACF season, Vazquez holds a 9-7 lead over Abel Cedillo in the jockey standings.
There's a three-way tie atop the trainer standings. Jesus Uranga, Peter Miller and Milton Pineda all have four victories.
Racing will resume Saturday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.
The post Eda Extends Win Streak To Six With Great Lady M. Victory At Los Alamitos appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
