Crazy Beautiful All Class in Summertime Oaks

Crazy Beautiful  picked off another Southern California stakes for trainer Kenny McPeek in the May 30 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park. She followed stablemate Swiss Skydiver , the Eclipse Award winner who twice has taken graded stakes at Santa Anita for McPeek, most recently in the March 13 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1).

Upon the scratch of Absolute Scenes , only four fillies lined up for the $196,000 Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Lady Aces  went to the front early, though she received some pressure from Soothsay , the 4-5 favorite.

Crazy Beautiful, ridden by Mike Smith, raced between the first two into the first turn, but then Smith let her settle behind them.

"I entertained the lead there just for a moment and almost thought about it," said Smith. "But when the outside filly (Soothsay) came on and pressed, I said, OK, let me back on out of here. I'll sit in the pocket."

Smith's strategy worked perfectly. He was able to angle Crazy Beautiful outside in the final quarter, racing three wide into the stretch to pass Soothsay, who by then had gotten the better of Lady Aces.

Crazy Beautiful crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front of Soothsay, stopping the timer in 1:43.85 on the fast track. Lady Aces ran third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Soothsay and well in front of fourth-place finisher Plum Sexy .

"I was able to get out and she ran beautiful," said Smith. "She did that well within herself."

With no show wagering, Crazy Beautiful paid $4.60 to win and $2.10 to place. Soothsay also paid $2.10 to place.

McPeek shipped Crazy Beautiful out to trainer Karen Headley, who has cared for McPeek’s shippers often in the past. Phoenix Thoroughbred III owns Crazy Beautiful, a daughter of Liam's Map  —Indian Burn, by Indian Charlie, bred in Kentucky by Carolyn Vogel.

"The only thing he told me was that she was classy, and he was absolutely right," said Headley.

Crazy Beautiful arrived in California only a couple of days before the race, and Smith had a chance to gallop her over the Santa Anita track May 29. He noted that she "has a lot of energy."

McPeek purchased Crazy Beautiful as agent for $250,000 from the Little's Bloodstock consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Last year at 2 she won the Runhappy Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park and ran second in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) and Pocahontas Stakes (G3). Earlier this year she won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and then finished 10th in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) after a rough trip. From nine career starts she has a 4-3-0 record and has earned $520,865.

"She's a real sweet filly to be around," McPeek said a few days before the race. "She’ll do whatever you need her to do. This seemed like it would be a really good spot for her."

McPeek noted that his wife, Sherri, named Crazy Beautiful. Sherri first suggested naming her Beautiful Crazy after the Luke Combs song.

"They rejected it, and so she then suggested Crazy Beautiful," said McPeek.

Video: Summertime Oaks (G2)