In a battle of Cal-bred fillies, it was Jethorse, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber's Daddysruby (Frac Daddy) who just got the bob over the late-closing Big Pond (Mr. Big) in a thrilling finish to the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Tuesday. Though not the quickest into stride from her inside post, Daddysruby rushed up along the rail to take the early lead. She was pressed by favored Howl (Practical Joke) through a quarter in :22.21, but opened a clear lead as the favorite–unbeaten in a pair of lifetime starts coming into the La Brea–faltered after a half in :44.49. Daddysruby was still in front at the top of the lane and looked home free, but Big Pond loomed a threatening presence to her outside and closed with determination under Frankie Dettori to just miss on the line.
“We just wanted to get a good position because we were on the rail,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “I watched the other horses break and I knew we didn't need to go right to the lead. We broke quick. She's so game. She gave me a couple of more jumps in the lane. I wasn't so sure when we crossed the wire, but when my number went up, I was so happy.”
Co-owner Gary Barber admitted he wasn't sure his filly had come out on top in the photo finish.
“That was a close one, I didn't know who got it,” Barber said. “It was really tough. It looked like we were going to come second but winning like that, it's thrilling and were very happy.”
Daddysruby won her maiden impressively at first asking over the Tapeta at Golden Gate in January for her breeder, Steven Reger's Jethorse, and trainer Tim McCanna before Adam Wachtel and Barber joined the ownership line and the filly was transferred to trainer Peter Miller's barn. Winner of consecutive state-bred races–over the main track at Santa Anita in March and over the lawn at Del Mar in August–the gray filly was fourth in an age-restricted two-turn allowance on the grass at Del Mar Sept. 3, but atoned with a 5 1/4-length victory against older fillies and mares sprinting on the dirt last time out at Santa Anita Oct. 27.
“She is just all heart, and she was just a warrior today,” said Barber. “There's nothing better than winning a Grade I on opening day. We put a lot of money into this game and these are the moments we want to enjoy and share the victory with all of the partners and friends.”
Pedigree Notes:
Daddysruby is the first graded winner for her Ontario-based sire, Frac Daddy. She is the stallion's fifth black-type winner overall and first outside of Woodbine. Reger, a realtor based in Billings, Montana, campained Daddysruby's dam, Youtheprizeandi. The mare's first foal was stakes-placed Daddysprize (Scat Daddy), who was second in the 2018 Real Good Deal S. in the Jethorse colors. She has a yearling filly by Conquest Farenheit, but her 2023 foal by Smiling Tiger died.
Tuesday, Santa Anita
LA BREA S.-GI, $302,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.06, ft.
1–DADDYSRUBY, 120, f, 3, by Frac Daddy
1st Dam: Youtheprizeandi, by You and I
2nd Dam: Misty Knight, by Tough Knight
3rd Dam: Misty Park, by Table Run
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. O-Jethorse LLC, Wachtel Stable and Gary
Barber; B-Jethorse LLC (CA); T-Peter Miller; J-Juan J.
Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, $352,014.
Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Pond, 120, f, 3, by Mr. Big
1st Dam: Beside Still Water, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Way to Go, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Fantastic Ways, by Secretariat
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-George
Krikorian (CA); T-Tim Yakteen. $60,000.
3–Clearly Unhinged, 120, f, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Smart Win, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Win McCool, by Giant's Causeway
3rd Dam: Win Crafty Lady, by Crafty Prospector
O-Rock Brother Racing LLC; B-Rock Brothers Breeding LLC
(KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $36,000.
Margins: NO, 4, HF. Odds: 6.10, 5.40, 2.70.
Also Ran: Royal Spa, Fast and Shiny, Ice Dancing, Satin Doll, Howl, Bangs. Scratched: Blessed Touch.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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From allowance winner to Grade I victress, DADDYSRUBY hangs on to win the GI La Brea Stakes at 