Elm Drive takes command of Angels Flight S. and never looks like anything but the winner in an eye-catching 3-year-old bow reminiscent of her original juvenile form.
As brilliant as she was when she debuted on June 26 at Los Alamitos, where she dominated a five-girl field to eight easy lengths, and then won her first GII Sorrento S. Day 6 Del Mar’s August before the last GISW Eda (Munnings), she was unusually dull on the previous two warm-ups. Having placed distant seventh in the GI Del Mar Debutante on September 5 and last October 10 in the GII Chandelier S. 1 1/16m at Great Race Place, Elm Drive was not seen until after the competition returned. Again this turn takes place.
With old nemesis Eda scratched, it’s easy to get past an obstacle car to start accelerating to the top; The second bronze 2-1 pick had things on her own as she made it through an opening inning: 23.59 and one: 46.66 innings. The big white flame came first in the lane, top three and went well, and Elm Drive comfortably held out a late Kirstenbosch rally (Midnight Lute).
Coach Philip D’Amato, the current leader in the coach rankings, said: “She commands every step of the way and has a little bit left to kick far. Bob Baffert leads in bet wins, with 12. “I’m delighted with her return. Seven-eighths is a tough distance to win off the bench and I’m glad we did. I think she will get a lot out of this race. ”
Elm Drive is the second runner of the black category and the fifth winner out of 5 surviving older children. The mare has a longing pony Urge and a 2022 pony of Evaporation. Click to view Equibase.com chart or VIDEO sponsored by TVG.
ANGELS BAY S.$79,400, Santa Anita, 5-8, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.97, ft.
first-ELM DRIVE, 124, f, 3, by Mohaymen
Beat One: Lets Dance Charlie, by Indian Charlie
2nd beat: Dance Darling, by Devil’s Bag
3rd Dam: Danzig Darling, by Danzig
($40,000 Ylg ’20 OBSOCT; $165,000 Ylg’ 21 OBSMAR). O-Little Red Feather Racing; B-Kenneth D’Oyen (KY); T-Philip D’Amato; J-Ricardo Gonzalez. $47,640. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-0, $195,640. * 1/2 for Mother of Dragons (First Prince), MSW, $153,995.
2-Kirstenbosch120, f, 3, Midnight Lute–Llandudno, by Belong to Me. TYPE 1 BLACK. O/B-Keith Abrahams (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $15,880.
3–Empire Gal120, f, 3, Empire Maker – Double Tapped, by Tapit. TYPE 1 BLACK. O-Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Purebred Partners; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $9,528 dollars.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 2.00, 2.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Unsolved Mystery, Classic Romance. Scratches: Eda.
