Under patient handling from Edwin Maldonado, Spendthrift Farm's homebred Teena Ella prevailed by a neck over a fast finishing Tom's Regret in Saturday's $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3), which was run at about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Teena Ella, a 3-year-old filly by elite sire War Front out of four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder, by Henny Hughes, got the trip in 1:12.36.
Although she broke sharply from her number two post position, Teena Ella was taken in hand by Maldonado, who was aboard for the first time today. Forwardly placed down the hill, she was about two lengths off pacesetter procrastination at the dirt crossing. Straightening for home, she had both Procrastination and Fast and Shiny to her inside and under aggressive handling, gained the advantage inside the sixteenth pole while just holding Tom's Regret safe.
“The instruction was to get her to settle,” said Maldonado. “Sometimes she likes to break sharp. I watched a couple of her replays, and she likes to throw her head out. When we settled, we got in a good spot, I was happy coming across the dirt. It is just an honor for me to have these opportunities, I'm blessed.”
Most recently second, beaten a half length down the hill in the ungraded Angels Flight Stakes March 26, Teena Ella was off at 5-2 in a field of six sophomore fillies and paid $7.00 for the victory.
Teena Ella, Beholder's third foal to race, becomes the superstar mare's first graded stakes winner while improving her overall mark to 5-2-1-1. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $128,740.
“She showed a lot of heart because they hooked her and she could have given up and didn't,” said Hall of Famer Mandella, who also conditioned the great Beholder. “Edwin rode her really well for only being acquainted for two minutes. I think she'll go further now on the grass. I think she will go on, but as long as I can do this, I'll do this.”
The lone California-bred in the field, Tom's Regret flew late to just miss.
Irish-bred The Wild Grazer, who took blinkers off today and broke inward leaving the gate from her rail post, finished three quarters of a length behind Tom's Regret.
Fast and Shiny, the actual 2-1 favorite with Abel Cedillo up, broke a step slow but was quickly into stride but tired late to finish fifth, beaten two lengths for the win.
Fractions on the race were :21.85, :43.72. and 1:06.30.
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