Claimed out of a double digit defeat for $40,000 in her most recent start, the Leonard Powell-trained Bye Bye Bertie left seven rivals in her wake as she powered home to a 5 ½ length win in Monday's $63,000 Santa Anita allowance feature. Originally scheduled to be ridden by Victor Espinoza, she provided leading man Flavien Prat with his fourth win on the day and 15th through seven racing days while covering one mile in 1:37.98.
Hustled from her outside post position, Bye Bye Bertie was caught five-wide into the Club House turn but settled nicely in the run up the backside for Prat. Into the bridle and on the move around the far turn, she was three-deep turning for home and easily blew by Stella Noir and heavily favored Moraz as she marched home under a vigorous hand ride.
“She broke well but we got stuck wide early,” said Prat, who picked the mount up Monday morning from Victor Espinoza, who departed earlier to attend his mother's funeral in Mexico. “We were able to tuck in on the backside and she kicked on very well through the stretch.”
Beaten 12 ½ lengths in a first condition allowance/optional claimer on Aug. 22 at Del Mar, Bye Bye Bertie was entered for an optional $50,000 tag today and was off at 5-1, returning $12.60, $4.40 and $3.00.
“She was quite nervous when we got her,” said Powell. “She's settled quite a bit and we were hoping she'd run well.”
A 5-year-old mare by the Distorted Humor stallion Alternation, out of the Ready's Image mare Dream of Bertie, Bye Bye Bertie has been a popular commodity at the claim box. Haltered for $50,000 three starts back at Churchill Downs on May 31, she was claimed out of a $40,000 win at one mile on turf July 17 at Del Mar prior to her last start on Aug. 22.
Owned by Gatto Racing, LLC, All Schlaich Stables, LLC, Mathilde Powell, Arthur Spencer and James Cahill, Bye Bye Bertie, in her first start at Santa Anita, picked up $37,800 for the win, increasing her earnings to $230,888 from an overall race record of 18-7-1-2.
Forwardly placed into the far turn, Moraz had no answer for the winner and checked in second, 3 ¾ lengths in front of Stella Noir. Third three starts back in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks, she was off at 3-5 with Umberto Rispoli up and paid $2.60 and $2.20.
Sent to the lead from the rail by Edwin Maldonado, Stella Noir was done turning for home and finished three lengths better than longshot Sweet Pearl. Off at 5-1, Stella Noir paid $2.80 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.46, 46.94, 1:12.31 and 1:25.05.
Live racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Friday at 1 p.m.
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