Lady Claypoole is a new lady in this relatively new year.
Just 1-for-16 through the end of 2024, she is 3-for-3 in 2025 after upsetting the $101,000 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) with a last-to-first rally March 15 at Santa Anita Park. Jockey Tiago Pereira was aboard Saturday, as he has been throughout her win streak.
Though the pace of the 1 1/4-mile Santa Ana was moderate—Omaha Girl set splits of :47.70, 1:12.36, and 1:37.45—it never hindered hard-charging Lady Claypool. Sent wide on the final turn to launch her bid, she quickly picked off rivals and was in front with a furlong to go before widening her advantage to 2 1/2 lengths at the finish. She stopped the clock in 2:01.40 on “good” turf after rain at Santa Anita this week.
Mrs. Astor finished second, a half-length ahead of Irish import Starry Heavens , who showed in her American debut.
Favored Kathynmarissa ran fifth without an apparent excuse after chasing the pace.
Lady Claypool, bet down from her 20-1 morning line in her first stakes start, returned $25.40 for a $2 win bet.
“I saw there were a couple of horses with speed, and I thought the pace might be pretty good,” Pereira said. “She broke so relaxed and never pulled. Then at the three-eighths pole, she asked me. I held her just for just a little bit, then asked her at the quarter pole, and she flew home.”
Richard Baltas, who trains Lady Claypool for owners Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh, admitted her performance on Saturday was unexpected. But he added that she is really “getting good” while training away from Santa Anita at San Luis Rey Downs Training Center. He further acknowledged Pereira’s impact.
“He’s rode three perfect rides, and you’ve got to give a lot of credit to him,” Baltas said.
The trainer won the Santa Ana for the fifth time after winning in four occasions with different fillies and mares from 2017-21.
For Pereira, it was the 48-year-old Brazilian’s second straight win in the race. He first took the Santa Ana aboard Linda’s Gift for trainer Richard Mandella.
Bred in Ireland by Aston House Stud, Lady Claypoole is a 5-year-old bay mare by Coolmore Stud stallion Starspangledbanner out of the group 3-placed Singspiel mare Short Affair . She is a half sister to Rodaballo , a group 2 winner, and Horse of the Year in Spain in 2021.
Lady Claypoole was purchased for $100,000 by Carolyn Conley, agent for Abbodanza Racing—a partnership headed by Bing Bush and Nathan McCauley—from the Bluewater Sales consignment to the 2023 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale. At that time, she had been a maiden coming off a runner-up finish at Churchill Downs.
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