Under patient handling from Hector Berrios, Irish-bred Quattroelle surged late to take the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2) by a half length Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trained by Jeff Mullins, Quattroelle got one mile over a turf listed as good in 1:35.74.
Unhurried behind a pedestrian pace set by Kitty Kitana to the far turn, the complexion of Buena Vista changed suddenly as Kitty Kitana, with Flavien Prat up, stopped three furlongs from home, enabling longshot Tik Tok Famous to get first run on the field around the far turn.
Fifth, about three lengths off the lead at the quarter pole, Quattroelle lengthened her stride as School Dance made a brief lead while joined to her outside by Nadette, who was unable to hold off eventual runner-up Macadamia at the rail and Quattroelle, who rallied five-deep to get up in time.
A winner of the Megahertz Stakes (G3) at one mile on turf Feb. 4 at Santa Anita, Quattroelle was off as the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.60 for the win.
A 5-year-old Irish-bred Mehmas mare, Quattroelle notched her second graded stakes win and her third overall. Owned by Red Baron's Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal, she picked up $120,000 for the win, boosting her earnings to $412,772 from an overall mark of 5-3-4 from 15 starts.
Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Brazilian-bred Macadamia finished one length in front of third-place finisher Closing Remarks, who rallied from far back.
Fractions on the race were :23.32, L:47.96, 1:12.42 and 1:24.11.
BUENA VISTA STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
HECTOR BERRIOS, QUATTROELLE, WINNER: “Patience is what I had. When you know you have a good mare, you can just wait for the right time to make your move. She was ready to move on the turn. When you are the 'favorite', everyone is looking at you. I waited for that moment to move and she did the rest.”
TRAINER QUOTES
JEFF MULLINS, QUATTROELLE, WINNER: “Hector has really figured her out. It wasn't until her last race in the Megahertz that he decided to just be a little more patient and it worked.
“She came out of that race really well, and she's trained just as she's always had. We just knew. Today she just got a cleaner trip. Hector just sat there, and sat there, I thought, 'Man you gotta go sometime,' and she just kicked away. Hector is the key to this filly right now.”
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