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Becca Taylor won her second graded stakes in a span of 30 days when she defeated six rivals in the Grade II, $201,000 Great Lady M. Monday at Los Alamitos.
The victory was the ninth in 10 starts- her lone loss came by a nose on turf earlier this year in the Irish O’Brien Stakes – for the 4-year-old daughter of Old Topper and the General Meeting mare Lady Sax and the $120,000 payday pushed her earnings $499,160.
The two-length win by the 7-10 choice was the second stakes success of the meet for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi. Nine days earlier, they had taken the $100,000 Bertrando with Desmond Doss.
Becca Taylor, who is now 2-for-2 under jockey Juan Hernandez, broke well, disposed of longshot Brandon’smylawyer, who had the lead briefly out of the gate, before a quarter of a mile had been run, then repelled challenges from Elm Drive and Samurai Charm in the final quarter of a length to win in 1:15.25 for the 6 ½ furlongs.
The win was also the second in as many starts at Los Alamitos for the versatile miss. She broke her maiden when 17-1 in her debut during the 2020 Winter Meet.
Favored for the eighth race in a row, Becca Taylor returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10. Samurai Charm, a 7-1 shot who had won her earlier starts at Los Alamitos, paid $5.40 and $3.80 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of 9-2 second choice Elm Drive. The show price on Elm Drive, who was also a first out winner at Los Alamitos, was $3.80.
“It’s funny,’’ said Miyadi. “Her form doesn’t look like she is real speed, but she is. One day she is going to break running and wow everyone – I hope. As soon as (Elm Drive) kind of took back, Juan knew what to do and he took advantage of the situation.
“That nose (regarding her sole defeat) is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.’’
Hernandez, who rode Becca Taylor for the first time in the Grade III Desert Stormer June 4 at Santa Anita, was impressed.
“It was almost the same race as last time,’’ he said. “She was a little aggressive away from there and really responded when I asked her in the stretch. She’s getting better and better.’’
Racing will resume Friday at Los Alamitos, kicking off the final three days of the Los Angeles County Fair meet. Post time is 2 p.m.
