Southern California’s turf king Phil D’Amato struck again when his runners finished 1-2 in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 14 at Santa Anita Park. It was the less heralded of the two runners, 18-1 shot Honey Pants , who prevailed over favored Elm Drive in a dramatic blanket finish for the victory.
Owned by Bakster Farm and Gerald Isbister, Honey Pants was turning the tables on Elm Drive, who had defeated her eight months earlier on the same downhill turf course in the Mizdirection Stakes. Honey Pants would not be denied this time. Riding the rail in third position behind blistering fractions of :22.17 and :43.99, jockey Frankie Dettori cut the corner with the Cairo Prince mare turning for home she assumed command at the top of the lane.
From there it was a dogfight to the finish, with Elm Drive shouldering Honey Pants along her outside as the 6-year-old clung to the fence. In razor tight, Dettori lost his whip on Honey Pants but handrode her vibrantly to the wire. The pair edged Elm Drive by a head, with Gracelund Gray another three-quarters of a length back in third.
Honey Pants ($40.40) raced the 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill in 1:12.40.
“(The win) was bittersweet. Both of my horses tried hard,” said D’Amato. “Elm Drive gives it to you every time and Honey Pants has been a bit unlucky in the last couple and got her vindication today.”
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