Toinette Stays Perfect on Santa Anita Turf in Wilshire
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Toinette (pink cap) wins the Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Toinette continued her dominance on the Santa Anita Park grass course June 20, winning the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) by 2 3/4 lengths over longshot Red Lark to improve to 5-for-5 on the turf there.
Though Toinette had not raced since finishing fourth in the Dec. 1 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar, the public was confident she would return at full strength, backing her to 3-5 favoritism. And she delivered, stalking the pace and easily taking command leaving the second turn of the one-mile race under regular jockey Flavien Prat.
Keen early, being so fresh after time away, she settled as the field raced down the backstretch. Prat allowed Gypsy Spirit to take the lead with a half-mile split in :47.68 and three-quarters in 1:11.34. Then Prat let out a notch on Toinette.
The Neil Drysdale trainee quickly caught Gypsy Spirit and comfortably finished well ahead of the field while hand-ridden to the wire. The 5-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy finished in 1:35.20 on firm grass, racing a final eighth of a mile in :11.89. She paid $3.40 for a $2 win wager.
"There was no pace," Prat said. "She was a little fresh, she took me into the race. (Gypsy Spirit) made the move to the outside, she got the race to go. (Toinette) took a nice breather, and she was in the race from there. I didn't want to be on the lead, so I was glad there was a horse that made the move and made some pace."
"It was a strangely run race, but I liked the outcome," Drysdale said. "You're always a little concerned when a horse has had six months off. It's great to have her back."
Prat and Drysdale won the Wilshire for the second consecutive year. Last year's winner, Simply Breathless, was one of two scratches in Saturday's race along with Cordiality. Drysdale also won the Wilshire in 1999 with Sapphire Ring.
Toinette's other victories on the Santa Anita turf were a maiden win, the Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T), the Swingtime Stakes, and the Goldikova Stakes (G2T) for owners Lynne and Edward Hudson Jr. and Ken Baca.
She also won the Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G3T) at Churchill Downs in 2018.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Red Lark, a 3-year-old filly facing her elders, rallied to grab second under Drayden Van Dyke, edging third-place Querelle and fourth-place Gypsy Spirit.
Keeper Ofthe Stars, the winner of the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) and Gamely Stakes (G1T), disappointed as the second choice, fading to last of five after coming under early pressure from jockey Abel Cedillo on the second turn.
Bred in Kentucky by J D Stuart, P C Bance, and A R Enterprises, Toinette is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Sunriver mare I Bet Toni Knows, whose daughter Bellamy Knows is also a winner. Toinette has won eight of 12 races and $566,720.