There was no stewards' inquiry posted after Goodnight Olive's win. The Equibase chart noted that Goodnight Olive “drifted in, taking the path of Society [Gun Runner] near the three-sixteenths pole” before she “quickly opened clear and held safely.”

Ortiz, who is North America's winningest jockey in both victories and purse earnings for 2023, will now serve his days Nov. 24-26 according to a California Horse Racing Board ruling issued on Friday.

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So what caused Stewart to get started in racing and why has he been so aggressive when it comes to his purchases? What are his plans and goals going forward? Is he doing this just to have some fun or does he believe his operation can be profitable?

Those were among the questions we asked Stewart when he was the Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland.

“If you get to know me, you'll find out that I don't do anything halfway,” Stewart said. “I bought my first horse last year after I had gone through a divorce. When I was married, my wife never wanted me to get into the horse racing. I always had a passion for it and went to the races and enjoyed it. And then I got divorced. So I was like, 'Okay, I'll buy a racehorse.' And then I started learning more about the industry. When I get involved in something, I want to research everything. I want to know everything, and I want to know the history. I've always respected the industry and how important it is to the Kentucky community and to the economy of the state and especially to the Lexington area. As I've been able to get successful in my career with my business, it affords you the opportunity to get involved in things that you're passionate about and try to make an impact for people other than yourself.”

He said that with the ambitions he has for his racing stable and future breeding operation, buying just a handful of horses was not an option.

“Anything I do, I'm going to do all the way,” he said. “My goals are to start a breeding and a racing operation and you need numbers to do that. You also have to be lucky at the end of the day to win these big races. With all the horses that are in the Kentucky Derby, they're all competitive horses and have had accomplished records. But you still need luck.  So you can't rely solely on just buying the best. You also have to have numbers because things happen, like injuries. So I decided that I needed more bullets in the chamber. Everybody was advising me to stick with buying fillies and mares because they're easier to make money with. But if you're going to have a racing program, you have to have colts. So that's why we really came out in a big way at Keeneland. We bought a lot of colts because I wanted to start getting the pipeline full of horses for racing.”

Stewart isn't the first newcomer to make a huge splash at the sales, coming in from out of nowhere to spend millions. Many who have done so have failed and disappeared from the sport within a short period of time. He said that's not going to happen to him.

“I'm going to make this profitable,” he said. “This won't be a hobby. I'm going to trust horsemen to run the business and let them make the decisions. Sometimes when you're an accomplished business person, you want to control every aspect of everything. That may be the way others go about it. I'm going to be involved, but I'm going to trust people, people that have been in the industry, people that know how things work to run my day-to-day operations of the business.  We have a very specific strategy of what we're trying to do. I'm going to be very involved strategically in what we're doing. I'm going to be involved, but I'm going to trust people that have been in the industry, people that know how things work, to run my day-to-day operations of the business. I'm not going to be micro-managing my farm manager. I'm not going try to tell him what to feed the horses. I'm not going to be micro-managing the trainers and try to tell them this is a race I want to run in and this is where I want to be. In my career, I've always surrounded myself with people that I think are very smart. And then I try to empower them to do the job that they've been hired to do.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by  the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association,https://www.kentuckybred.org/https://www.nyrabets.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, XBTV.com and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss discussed the 60 Minutes story on horse racing, whether or not it was fair and if could be just one more thing that erodes peoples' confidence in the sport. The podcast was recorded three days before GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) was to be sold at the Keeneland November sale. What will he bring? Finley guessed $500,000, while Cadman and Moss both guessed $1.2 million. Still another topic of discussions was the decision to run the 2025 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar and why has Churchill Downs seemingly been taken out of the running as a Breeders' Cup host site. Cadman speculated that Bob Baffert's ban at Churchill Downs may a reason why the Breeders' Cup is apparently reluctant to go there.

Click here to watch the podcast and here for the audio version.

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LEXINGTON, KY – Three Witches (Into Mischief) provided the highlight of a workaday Book 2 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when selling for $1.7 million Friday in Lexington. Book 2 opened with a uneven session Thursday at Keeneland, but activity was more consistent throughout Friday's Book 2 finale.

“It was a solid day of trade,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “From start to finish, it felt a little more consistent and healthy today. Yesterday was a little bumpy, the clearance rate was a little higher than we probably would have liked, but today was a lot more consistent.”

Through the two Book 2 sessions, 444 horses sold through the ring for a total of $69,520,000. The section's average of $153,599 was down 15.1% from the 2022 Book 2 figure, while the median fell 20%.

“There is certainly a little bit of an adjustment through the marketplace, but I think everyone felt pragmatic about it,” Lacy said. “I think it was an encouraging day. The money is still here for the right horses.”

Consigned by Indian Creek on behalf of Bob Edwards's e Five Racing, Three Witches brought the section's top price when selling for $1.7 million in the name of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd.

“Quality mares, young mares, well bred with the right breeding and not overly exposed, were highly desirable,” said Lacy. “I think that's been the consistent theme that we've seen so far. When we saw Three Witches go through for $1.7 million going to a client that is pretty established internationally, that's really encouraging. We are seeing that international investment still here.”

Justify, who had a pair of winners on Breeders' Cup weekend, was represented by the top two weanlings during Friday's session. Paul Sharp went to $525,000 for a daughter of the Triple Crown winner and AAA Thoroughbreds acquired a colt for $425,000.

The Keeneland November sale continues through Nov. 16 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

Three Witches Stars at Keeneland Friday

Three Witches (Into Mischief) (hip 936), just a week removed from a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, became the 12th seven-figure filly of the Keeneland November sale when selling for $1.7 million to the internet bid of Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd. The 4-year-old is expected to stay in training in the U.S. next year.

“She'll stay here in America and we'll try again on the racetrack,” said Keeneland Australian representative Barry Bowditch. “For a mare that raced five days ago, in one of the strongest Breeders' Cup races of the week, she looked so well and handled the trip back so well. You just feel that the best of her racing is yet to come. It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America.”

The spell is cast at $1.7 million for Three Witches.#KeeNov @IndianCreekKy @e5Racing pic.twitter.com/634fpWBgEB

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) November 10, 2023

Bowditch said a trainer is still being discussed for the filly's 2024 campaign.

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan purchased Three Witches on behalf of Bob Edwards's e Five Racing for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale. Trained by Saffie Joseph, the dark bay earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita with a win in the GIII Princess Rooney S. in October.

“It's always a hard decision [to sell] when you have something special that's won a Grade III and you drop her in the Breeders' Cup and, at 30-1, she hits the board,” Edwards said. “We believed in her and Saffie did a phenomenal job suiting her up and getting that Princess Rooney win for us and getting to the Breeders' Cup. That was all Saffie.”

Of the decision to send the graded-stakes winner through the ring at Keeneland, Edwards said, “I have a fair number of mares now. I have graded-stakes-winning mares on the roster and I figured I would move some inventory and see what happens next. We need to make room for up-and-coming stars.”

Edwards admitted Three Witches' $1.7-million price tag was above expectations.

“I was super excited with that result,” he said. “We knew there would be interest, we knew she would be the big horse for today. Keeneland did a phenomenal job. Chip McGaughey and his crew did a great job recruiting her and obviously bringing in the buyers. We were super happy with the job they did and the outcome was phenomenal. I wasn't expecting $1.7 million, but I was very happy to get it.” @JessMartiniTDN

Sharp Splurges for Justify Filly

Paul and Sarah Sharp, sitting in a back row of the sales pavilion, went to $525,000 to acquire a weanling filly by Justify (hip 975) from the Elite consignment Friday at Keeneland. The filly was the day's highest-priced weanling.

“We have been trying to buy really nice horses like that from the beginning of the sale and across town [at Fasig-Tipton] as well,” Paul Sharp said. “It's been really hard.”

Paul Sharp | Keeneland

The bay filly is out of Ada Lovelace (Algorithms), a half-sister to sprint champion Mitole (Eskendereya) and to Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow).

“That was a legit family and a very athletic, really nice filly by one of the best sires in the world at this time,” Sharp said. “I feel like that justified the price and we are very happy to have her. It was a little higher than we wanted to go, honestly, but we are running out of bullets.”

The weanling was bred by Villa Rosa Stables, which purchased Ada Lovelace for $110,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“Right now, the plan is to sell her back next summer,” Sharp, who signed for the filly as CSWV, said. “We're not sure where, but that's the plan.”

CSWV purchased another daughter of Justify Friday at Keeneland, going to $290,000 to acquire hip 793 from the Paramount Sales consignment. Through three sessions, the partnership has purchased five weanlings for $1,295,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Justify Colt to AAA Thoroughbreds

Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds, which has been busy buying weanlings from the Fasig-Tipton November sale Tuesday and into the first week of the Keeneland November sale, purchased a colt by Justify (hip 855) for $425,000 Friday in Lexington.

Hip 855 | Keeneland

“He's just a beautiful horse,” said Hartley. “We are big fans of Justify. When Scat Daddy passed away, we never dreamed that we would have another stallion that could replace him, let alone a Triple Crown-winning son of his. We came here in September and tried to buy every one that we could get our hands on. We bought, I think, six of them in September. We came here with the same goal in mind and the [Justify's two winners at the] Breeders' Cup just did it for us. He's the kind of stallion we haven't seen in a long time. I know Gun Runner got off to a really good start, but it looks like Justify is going to follow in the same suit.”

The chestnut colt, consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, is out of Saralin (Curlin), a half-sister to graded winners Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge) and Sarah's Secret (Leroidesanimuax {Brz}). He was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, Wynatt, and Kaleem Shah.

Shah and M.V. Magnier purchased Saralin for $1.3 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. She made just one racetrack appearance and her first foal, another colt by Justify, sold for $300,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale. The mare proceeded her weanling into the ring, selling not mated to Shah for $285,000.

Through three sessions, AAA Thoroughbreds has purchased 14 weanlings for $4,370,000. A filly by Curlin (hip 151) leads the operation's acquistions with a price tag of $550,000. Earlier in Friday's session, it acquired another colt by Justify (hip 812) for $250,000.

“I just had a big order for babies–I needed about 20,” Hartley said. “I buy some for Tom Durant in Texas. He likes buying babies because he feels like he gets a little bit of a discount. This colt might have made $600,000 or $700,000 as a yearling. He feels he can save a little if he can get some nice babies. Some [that we are buying here] will be for pinhooking and some will go to him in Texas.”

Also Friday, AAA Thoroughbreds added to its collection of weanlings by first-crop sire Yaupon. With the addition of a filly (hip 733) for $300,000, the operation has now purchased three weanlings by the Spendthrift stallion for $1.15 million. @JessMartiniTDN

Colt By Nyquist Goes For $385K at KEENOV

With the market continuing to remain competitive for weanlings, a colt by Nyquist (Hip 893) reached $385,000 at Keeneland Friday. Baroda Stud's David Cox signed the ticket on behalf of Goodwill Bloodstock. Hunter Valley Farm consigned the bay colt.

The Feb. 10 foal is out of the Bernardini mare Spa Treatment, a daughter of SW and GISP Silver Knockers (Silver Deputy) and a half-sister to SW Manipulated (Malibu Moon). This is the extended family of Grade I winner Joe's Tammie (Zoning).

“He's a real athlete, a great cross,” said Cox. “Hopefully, he'll be resold [pinhooked] next year. [Nyquist] is proven, and has good runners. We tried to buy a few more, but we got beat plenty, so we're delighted to get him.”–@CbossTDN

Charlatan Colt Brings $370K Early on Day 3

A colt by Charlatan brought $370,000 from Stonestreet Stables during Friday's Book 2 finale at Keeneland. He was consigned as Hip 695 by John Stuart's Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, acting as agent for Merribelle Stable.

Charlatan | Coady

Out of Hillhouse High (Exchange Rate), the Jan. 23 foal hails from the notable Sam-Son Farm family, including Canadian champions Regal Classic, Sky Classic, Classy 'N Smart and Always a Classic.

Headed by this colt, 14 weanlings sold by the sire–with four surpassing the $200,000 mark–through three days of selling at Keeneland. The weanlings grossed $2,810,000, averaging $200,714. Charlatan stands for $50,000 LFSN at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2024.

Campaigned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich, III, John Fielding,

and Golconda Stables, the son of Speightstown was trained by Bob Baffert. The 'TDN Rising Star' won his first four career starts, including the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Runhappy Malibu S. before finishing second in what would be his career finale in the 2021 G1 Saudi Cup.

“Barbara [Banke] owns Charlatan and we still own a good piece of him as a stallion,” said Stonestreet advisor John Moynihan. “She really wanted a nice one, so he was one of the better ones we saw. [Charlatan's] weanlings have been really well received and we're really excited. We bought him to run. Barbara saw him [Thursday] and really liked him. Hopefully, we'll get Charlatan off to a good start.”

Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services has already enjoyed a profitable run in the sales ring this week. Kicking things off with a bang, the operation sold Queen Caroline (Blame) (Hip 171), in foal to Flightline, for $3 million to John Stewart at Fasig-Tipton November Tuesday. And thus far at Keeneland, the consignment also hit a home run, selling Skims (Frankel {GB}) (Hip 125) for $1.8 million to Summer Wind Farm in Book 1. At Keeneland this week, the operation sold five head, grossing $2,437,000 with an average price of $487,400.–@CbossTDN

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With only four entered, this year's edition is highlighted by the Saratoga return of '21 champion 2-year-old filly and MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner). The Steve Asmussen trainee won her juvenile debut at the Spa when she soared to become a 'TDN Rising Star' and followed that up with a 4-length win in the GI Spinaway S.

Second last fall in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint between Eclipse champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) and stablemate MGSW &MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner), who just won the Twin Bridges S. at Ellis Park on Sunday, Echo Zulu started her 4-year-old campaign by recording a 5 3/4 length victory in the GIII Winning Colors S. May 29 at Churchill Downs.

Facing her, will be MGISP Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief) from Bill Mott's shedrow. The 6-year-old mare (27-12-9-3) comes back to Saratoga riding a three-race win streak, which includes two Grade III victories at Gulfstream Park. Rounding out the field are a pair of runners who were beaten last time out by Goodnight Olive. Maryquitecontrary (First Dude), who has won six of eight career races, ran second to her in the GI Madison S. in April at Keeneland for new trainer Shug McGaughey, while Dr B (Liam's Map), trained by Butch Reid, was fourth behind her in the GII Bed o' Roses S. June 17 at Belmont Park.

The post Echo Zulu Returns To The Spa In Honorable Miss appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“We got what we wanted,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “Senor Buscador started about six lengths back and got to the target a little faster and caught up by the three-eighths. He waited a bit not wanting to go by too fast and really started working at the quarter pole.”

Fincher surmised that Senor Buscador, who finished three lengths clear of his company, covered his final three furlongs from the eighth pole to the three-quarter pole in :34 and change.

“Sheriff Brown is better with a target, but he was the hunted today,” said Fincher, whose GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint contestant Slammed (Marking) is set to breeze Friday morning.

Also on the Thursday morning tab was Hot Peppers (Khozan), who went five furlongs on her own in 1:02.20 in :12.60, :24.80, :38 and out three-quarters in 1:16. Family Way (Uncle Mo), pre-entered for the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, went five-eighths in 1:00.80, the fastest of seven at the distance Thursday morning.

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The bay cuts back in distance to seven furlongs after capturing her stakes debut in Saratoga's Fleet Indian S. versus state-breds going 1 1/8 miles in the mud Aug. 26.

“At some point, we will challenge her and this seems to be a good spot,” trainer David Donk said. “The Raven Run is for straight 3-year-olds, it's graded and it is a good spot to see where we stand.”

He added, “I am not sure what her best distance is. She ran so well sprinting in her first two starts, and she has been training really well the past few weeks.”

Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) puts a three-race winning streak on the line following a narrow score in Saratoga's GII Prioress S. with the rail-drawn Union Lake (Speightster) back in third.

Smash Ticket (Midnight Lute) is two-for-two since joining the Rob Atras barn, including a big-figure 6 1/4-length tally in Pimlico's Weather Vane S. Sept. 24. She is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Shamrock Rose (First Dude) used the 2018 Raven Run as a springboard to a 25-1 upset in that term's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The 10-race Belmont at the Big A card, meanwhile, will feature a wide-open renewal of the GII Hill Prince S. for sophomore turfers; and the grassy GIII Noble Damsel S. for fillies and mares. Saturday's graded action is rounded out by Woodbine's GIII Ontario Matron S.

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“Most of the times I ride her, I know before I get to the gate what kind of a race she's going to run,” he said.

“So, did you know in the Breeders' Cup?” I asked eagerly.

“Oh yes, most definitely,” he replied. “The minute she walked onto the track I was like, 'oh yes,' and I looked at the rest of the horses and thought, `oh, I feel sorry for you guys!'”

The rest, of course is history. Ce Ce took down the Breeders' Cup and was crowned champion female sprinter at Santa Anita's Eclipse Award ceremony Feb. 10, but not before tasting defeat at the hands of Merneith (American Pharoah) in the GII Santa Monica S. just days before she was crowned.

I had interviewed CeCe's owner-breeder Bo Hirsch prior to the Santa Monica and asked him, “win lose or draw, what has she left to prove in her 6-year-old year?”

Hirsch was effusive and simply said, “She has nothing to prove and she owes us nothing. I'm getting old and I love to watch my horses run. You know, I may not live long enough to watch her foals run so why not enjoy her another year now?”

This is something the 72-year-old Hirsch echoed in his Eclipse Award speech, where he said, “I love this business. This is the greatest sport in the world.”

So, to find the key to Ce Ce's longevity, I set off to the Mike McCarthy barn.

Horses love routine, and in that, champion Ce Ce is no different. Training every morning with the sunrise at 6:30, she sets out not to Santa Anita's main track, but to the six-furlong training track nestled inside the turf course.

It's something McCarthy started a couple of years ago and it has stuck.

“It's a good walk to and fro, from the training track. It's something she enjoys and we let her take her time.”

So, off we went with her. I followed Ce Ce down into the tunnel, walking as fast as my oh-too-short legs could to try and keep up.

Once on the training track, Ce Ce took up her customary position next to the outrider Camacho and his pony Justin, enjoying cuddles from her rider Lydio as the early morning sun cast a long shadow across the track.

I'm pretty sure she would have stood there all day!

“Jog one, gallop two.” These were the instructions handed out by McCarthy.

Off she went–nothing flashy, just doing her job, three times around before pulling up with a pat. “She's a trainer's dream,” explained McCarthy, later that morning. It has been a huge deal to train a mare like her. She shows up every time, she's all business, she's all racehorse, from breaking her maiden first time out, something the stats say shouldn't happen,” said a deadpan McCarthy, “to winning the GI Beholder.”

“We got a little sidetracked later in the year,” he added. “We had a hard time finding racetracks she likes. She seems to like it a little harder and faster. We've kind of gotten away from that a little bit out here in California, so she's struggled with that a little bit.”

McCarthy went on to elaborate that Ce Ce has got a little picky in her old age, preferring the more glib race tracks of times gone by. When pressed about her Breeders' Cup performance, the ever-reserved trainer perked up.

“Got a perfect set up with Gamine and Bella Sofia in there. Victor asked the question and she responded. I believe that was probably as good a Breeders' Cup performance as you would see on Breeders' Cup day,” he said, with just a bit of pride.

As for what happened in the Santa Monica, McCarthy conceded Baffert led a very good horse over that ran her eyeballs out. Plus, Ce Ce was coming off a brief layoff, with the track against her.

“But I saw what I needed to see and we will go from there,” he added.

But where?

McCarthy did his best dodge-the-question dance, with the usual `keep our options open,' followed by a list of logical choices befitting a champion. “Oaklawn. Keeneland. Could show up in another country. Could stay here.”

“Hold on,” I said. “Another country?”

“Well, we are not the only place that holds racing,” quipped a now-smiling McCarthy. “There are races like the Golden Shaheen in Dubai, or she could even try the grass. We know her likes and dislikes and will try to play to those for the rest of the year.”

Is there added pressure training a six-year-old with seemingly nothing left to prove, I asked?

“There is a little bit of pressure because we want to do right by her, always. I feel like we are responsible for the effort, not the outcome. Sometimes, that's beyond our control.”

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The 2020 GI Apple Blossom H. and GI Beholder Mile S. heroine focused on races going around one turn during her 2021 campaign. In addition to her victory at the Championships, her season also included strong wins in the GII Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream July 3 and GIII Chillingworth S. at Santa Anita Oct. 3. She finished third, three lengths behind champion Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga Aug. 28.

The Bo Hirsch homebred, the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the Santa Monica, is an Eclipse finalist for champion female sprinter.

“Well, at my stage in life I want more fun than money, and as long as she wants to run, and as long as we know she wants to run, we're going to run for a while,” Hirsch said following the Breeders' Cup.

The field of five also includes: last out GI La Brea S. winner Kalypso (Brody's Cause); and this race's 2021 winner Merneith (American Pharoah), who returned from the shelf to finish second in the Kalookan Queen S. here Jan. 2.

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A handy 2 ½ length winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven panels at Del Mar Nov. 6, Ce Ce will be bidding for her third consecutive graded stakes win in what will be her first start at age six on Saturday.

With five wins from eight starts at Santa Anita, Ce Ce, who is by Elusive Quality and is out of Hirsch's Grade 1 stakes winning Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me, is a three-time Grade 1 winner who has earnings of $1,753,100 from an overall mark of 16-8-1-3.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Ce Ce enjoyed a tremendous year at age five, winning four out of her six starts while banking $888,000. She'll again be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for all but two of her career starts.

Bob Baffert will be represented by a pair of distaffers, recent Grade 1 winner Kalypso and Merneith, who ran a big second in the ungraded Kalookan Queen at 6 ½ furlongs Jan. 2 following a nearly one year absence. A winner of last year's Santa Monica, Merneith, a 5-year-old mare by American Pharoah, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Edwin Maldonado, who was aboard for last year's Santa Monica score.

Owned by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, Merneith, who will hope to improve with a recent race to her credit, is 11-4-4-2 overall with earnings of $373,620.

A 4 ¾ length winner of the G1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs Dec. 26, Kalypso will nonetheless be facing tougher competition as she'll be competing against older distaffers for the first time. Owned by Rockingham Ranch, David Bernsen, Littlefield, et al, Kalypso, a 4-year-old daughter of Brody's Cause, has won two of her three starts, including last year's G2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs. With an overall mark of 9-3-3-2 and earnings of $480,600, she'll be ridden back by John Velazquez.

Hronis Racing's Park Avenue, who had a two-game winning streak snapped when a well beaten second in the G3 La Canada Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth on Jan. 1, will shorten up out of five consecutive routes in what will be her second stakes engagement.

Trained by John Sadler, Park Avenue, a 4-year-old filly by Quality Road, will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.

THE GRADE 2 SANTA MONICA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

1. Kalypso—John Velazquez—124
2. Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—124
3. Merneith – Edwin Maldonado – 122
4. Full of Grace – Abdul Alsagoor – 120
5. Park Avenue – Juan Hernandez – 120

First post time for a nine-race card, which will include three graded stakes on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

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“I watched her run, obviously, she runs really good races,” said Velazquez, who notched his third stakes win of the young meet and who was aboard for the first time on Sunday. “Today, the strategy was to chase them or chase me.  I broke (well), let her run to the lead and let them catch me. … When I asked her to run she responded right away, so I'm very proud.”

Most recently second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, Edgeway was off at 2-5 in a field of four older fillies and mares and with no show wagering, she paid $2.80 and $2.10.

“That was really good,” said Kosta Hronis, of Hronis Racing, LLC. “She bounced out of the Breeders' Cup really well. I think the plan was to give her a little bit more of a break, but she's been asking to run, John (Sadler) had her all trained up and ready to go. It's an honor to have John (Velazquez).  Any time we can have jockeys like this on the West Coast, we're always happy to see that.”

Out of the Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, Edgeway, who took the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes two races back on Aug. 20, is now a two-time stakes winner.  With the winner's share from today's win of $47,160, she increased her earnings to $596,360.

Merneith, who had been idle for Bob Baffert since winning the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes Feb. 13, stalked the winner to the top of the lane, but was unable to keep up when Edgeway opened up three lengths turning for home. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, she kept to her task and finished 5 ½ lengths clear of Stellar Sound while paying $2.40 to place.

Fractions on the race were 22.15, 44.96 and 1:09.95.

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