With favored Grace Adler in deep water around the far turn, trainer Phil D'Amato's Ain't Easy was running comfortably on the lead and was never threatened en route to a 4 ¾-length score in the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Ain't Easy got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:45.20.
A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, Ain't Easy will get a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
Breaking sharply from post position two, Ain't Easy was a bit keen around the Club House turn as she tucked in a close third behind pacesetter Electric Ride, who she overtook by a half length at the three-furlong marker. Leading by about four lengths at the three sixteenths pole, Ain't Easy won geared down in a most impressive effort.
A first out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs with Rosario Aug. 21 at Del Mar, Ain't Easy, a daughter of Into Mischief, was off 7-2 and paid $9.00, $4.00 and $3.20.
Owned by Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts, Ain't Easy, who is out of the Australian-bred mare Ameristralia, picked up $120,000 for the win and now has earnings of $162,000.
“She acted very professional, sitting behind horses,” said D'Amato. “'When Joel (Rosario) wanted to, she came up the inside, which I like to see with a young horse. She just looked like she was having fun in the stretch. I think it set up perfect. A good two-turn experience, confidence booster, an easy win, where it didn't look like she was taxed too much, so I like everything I saw right now.
Ain't Easy was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm and sold for $400,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Electric Ride, off at 6-1 with Joe Bravo, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Desert Dawn and paid $7.00 and $4.80.
Off at 31-1 with Ricky Gonzalez, Desert Dawn paid $7.60 to show.
Grace Adler, off at 4-5, finished a well beaten fifth.
Fractions on the race were 23.56, 47.99, 1:12.16 and 1:37.98.
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