Canoodling Bounces Back in Wilshire

Unlike in the March 5 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T), when everything that could go wrong did in fact go wrong for B4 Farms' Canoodling , the daughter of Pioneerof the Nile had everything go right in the May 1 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park as she surged to the wire a convincing 1 3/4-length winner.

In the Buena Vista, trainer Mike Puype experienced a trainer's nightmare as the filly broke through the gate before the race had begun and had to be reloaded. That wasn't the case in the Wilshire, as Canoodling leapt smartly and swept to the lead into the run for the first turn. Under a confident Juan Hernandez, Canoodling dictated a first quarter in :23.08, a half-mile in :46.86 before hitting the top of the lane 1 1/2-lengths in front through six-furlongs in 1:10.88.

Hernandez kept Canoodling to task down the lane as Eddie's New Dream  and England's Rose  launched late bids. Their challenges came up short, as Canoodling hit the wire alone in 1:34.90 on a firm turf course.

"This was a breakthrough race for us today," said Puype. "She ran huge.  She had to run real fractions and keep it going and she did.

"The first time she won here in the Megahertz (G3T), she stole it with an easy pace. There was no easy pace today. She took heat the whole way and kicked away very impressively. I went to the paddock with confidence.  I told Juan, 'You ride her the way you see fit.  If she breaks, you go, if not, do what you gotta do...Ride her like she's the best horse in the race,' and he did."

Canoodling was the 7-2 second choice in a field of eight fillies and mares three and up and paid $9.60, $4.80 and $3.60.

"I worked her one time a couple weeks ago and she worked really nice," said Hernandez, who got his second win on the day and his third graded stakes win in the past two days. "I told my agent that she was doing really good and that she worked good that day. I told him I wanted to ride her and yeah, we got the win today."

Canoodling collected her second graded stakes and fourth overall stakes victory, improving her career mark to 16-8-1-2. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $342,023.

The lone California-bred in the field, Eddie's New Dream was third, about three lengths off the lead at the top of the lane and finished up well to hold off a late-charging England's Rose by a half length for second money.

Canoodling was bred in Kentucky by Stonehaven Steadings, who then consigned the filly as a yearling at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale where she sold to Lori Owens for $180,000. She is the third foal out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Miz Kella, herself a full sister to champion 2-year-old male Shanghai Bobby. Miz Kella has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo   and yearling filly by Street Sense  .

Video: Wilshire S. (G3T)