Sneaking Out Upsets Bellafina in Great Lady M. Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Sneaking Out wins the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course
Sneaking Out snuck up on favored Bellafina in the $201,000 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course July 4, delivering a $16.40 upset victory of the 1-2 favorite.
Overlooked at odds of more than 7-1 after a fifth-place finish in the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, Sneaking Out ran a far better race Saturday in her home state of California, where she was bred by owner KMN Racing. She grabbed a forward position under Martin Garcia, chasing Artistic Diva through fractions of :21.63 and :44.09 in the 6 1/2-furlong race, and took charge leaving the turn.
She held a length advantage with a furlong remaining, and though Bellafina slightly cut into that margin, she turned away that foe to win by three-quarters of a length. She completed the distance on a fast track in 1:14.62, with a final sixteenth in :06.48.
Bellafina was within striking distance in fourth early, but may not have cared for an inside trip after breaking from the fence. She came under urging from jockey Flavien Prat early in the stretch and only seemed to pick up momentum when the race became less congested over the final eighth of a mile.
The multiple grade 1-winning filly never threatened the winner, though she was two lengths clear of third-place Amuse in the field of seven.
Artistic Diva, Hang a Star, Zusha, and Donut Girl rounded out the order of finish.
Sneaking Out is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and races for Kevin and Kim Nish's KMN Racing. The Nishes, owners since 2012, were partners in the Hollendorfer-trained Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, with Jungle Racing, Hollendorfer, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II, and George Todaro.
"That was nice,'' said Hollendorfer. "She was laying outside and she got a little breather around the turn and when (Garcia) asked her to go she had a lot left. She finished up really well."
It was the second win of the year for the 4-year-old Indian Evening filly, who won an allowance at Oaklawn Park April 25 by a neck.
"I thought she could be the speed if she wanted, but we learned at Oaklawn Park that she didn't have to have the lead," added Hollendorfer. "She ran a huge race there where she got passed, then came back on and won the race.''
Last year she won the Evening Jewel Stakes vs. state-bred competition at Santa Anita and placed in three other stakes, including the Summertime Oaks (G2). The Great Lady M. was her first graded stakes victory.
Out of the stakes-placed Kitten's Joy mare Maddie's Odyssey, she is one of four winners for her dam, three of which are stakes winners. Those other stakes winners are Grecian Fire, winner of the 2019 All American Stakes (G3), and Been Studying Her, who captured the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes and Generous Portion Stakes for California-breds, also in 2019.
Sneaking Out, 5-4-0 from 11 starts, increased her earnings to $431,441 by winning the Great Lady M.