A seven-length first-out maiden winner versus statebreds on May 7, Terry Lovingier's homebred At the Spa made it look easy in open company on Sunday at Santa Anita, as she dispatched of favored Laurel Canyon turning for home en route to a 2 ¼ length score in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante Stakes. Trained by Jorge Periban and ridden by Tyler Baze, At the Spa got five furlongs in :59.79.
With Laurel Canyon hustled from her rail post, At the Spa was immediately alongside as the two fillies raced as a team into the far turn. With Baze riding confidently, At the Spa shook loose of her competition a furlong out and proved much the best.
“Today, she had to fight it out a little bit and she prevailed,” said Baze, who also won the day's previous race aboard Restrainedvengence in the Grade 3 American Stakes. “She's matured so much from the first race, she's just getting better. It's going to be a bright future for her.”
Off as the second choice at 9-5 among a field of five juvenile fillies, At the Spa paid $5.80, $3.20, and $2.20.
“I really feel excited because this filly really is a big filly,” said Periban. “Since the beginning, I knew she had so much talent, a lot of ability. I told Baze, before she ran, 'I got something for you.' And he believed me because we're a good team. I had a lot of confidence, mucho. I can't say what it was, but it was something in my heart (that) said today's going to be another win.”
Breeder and co-owner Terry Lovingier was thrilled with At the Spa's performance. “It was so exciting watching them come down. Watching two babies that I bred draw off together was very cool. I wasn't sure if the gray filly was going to get to her or not.”
Owned by Lovingier, Tom Beckerle, and Saul Carrillo, At the Spa is by the Uncle Mo stallion Outwork and is out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek. With today's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $107,580.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Munny Penny, who loomed ominously while third turning for home, was second-best on the day, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Laurel Canyon. Off at 6-1, Munny Penny paid $4.80 and $2.60.
Laurel Canyon, a California-bred who broke her maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park May 13, was ridden by Flavien Prat and paid $2.20 to show while off at odds of 8-5.
Fractions for the race were :22.17 for the first quarter and :46.40 for the half-mile.
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