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Making her first start since finishing a distant fourth in the Grade II Summertime Oaks June 12, heavily-favored Ganadora toyed with her five rivals in the $75,000 Dark Mirage Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Owned by Baoma Corporation and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 3-yeaer-old daughter of Quality Road and the Ghostzapper mare Beloveda led throughout – despite an eventful beginning – under jockey Juan Hernandez, ultimately prevailing by eight lengths.
The win was the third in four starts for Ganadora, who was purchased for $1 million at the 2020 Keeneland September sale. She’s now banked $131,600. She paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20 as the 4-5 choice while completing the mile in 1:36.30.
“She broke weird and I lost my stirrup briefly, but everything was fine after a sixteenth of a mile,’’ said Hernandez, who is now 3-for-3 with Ganadora. “She was just playing on the lead. She had her ears up, which I love, because it means she’s waiting for company. She changed leads at the quarter pole and was very strong.’’
Mike Marlow, an assistant to Baffert, said the time off since the Summertime Oaks was beneficial to Ganadora.
“She’s been doing well,’’ he said. “She’s light and she’s really hard on herself, so the time between races did her good. That’s her style. She’s got speed and you just have to let her do what comes easy and not fight with her.’’
Empire House, who had been unplaced in five previous races around two turns, was second at 10-1, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 5-1 third choice Trouville. Empire House returned $6 and $3.40 while the show price on Trouville was $3.
Founder’s Day, Velvet Slippers, the other Baffert entrant and the 3-1 second choice, and Cover Version completed the order of finish. Midnight Jamboree was scratched.
Racing resumes Thursday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.
Pick Six carryover awaits Thursday
There will be a Pick Six carryover of $19,840 when racing resumes Thursday at Los Alamitos, the fourth day of the September meet.
The carryover was guaranteed four races into the sequence Sunday primarily due to consecutive upsets by Of Good Report ($23.80) in the fourth, Shvere Arbeter ($14.80) in the fifth and Stanford Man ($21.20) in the sixth.
The Pick Six begins in Thursday’s third race. Post time is 1 p.m. and scheduled post time for the third is 2:05 p.m.
