Closing Remarks Lands Finishing Touch in Royal Heroine

Recently troubled but worry-free today, Harris Farms' homebred Closing Remarks  got a perfect trip in the $200,500 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 1 at Santa Anita Park, responding with an authoritative 1 1/2 length score under Joe Bravo.

Closing Remarks was a settled fourth early as recent allowance winner Honey Jar  sped to the lead which she held to the quarter pole. On the move at that point and just two lengths off the lead, the Carla Gaines trainee wheeled four-deep into the lane and won decisively.

School Dance  was runner-up and Very Scary  finished third.

The lone California-bred in the field, Closing Remarks finished the one-mile turf event in 1:34.82. Bet down to favoritism after a impeded trip when third in the March 4 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T), Closing Remarks paid $4.40 to win.

Fractions on the race were 23.44, 47.35, 1:11.05, and 1:23.06.

"Carla has done a great job bringing her around in each one of these races," Bravo said. "She probably should have won her last one but we had a troubled trip in that race and today with a clean trip, she was tons (the best).

"She dropped down (to her left lead) turning for home and she exploded. There's nothing better than acceleration like that. A horse that loves to run, that's her."

The 5-year-old mare by Vronsky  out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove  improved her record to 4-5-4 in 18 starts. With the winner's share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $554,820.

Video: Royal Heroine S. (G2T)