Daddysruby Outlasts Big Pond in La Brea Thriller

California-breds may have been outnumbered by seven to two in the nine-horse La Brea Stakes (G2) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, but they were not to be outperformed.

Staging a thriller on opening day of the Classic Meet at Santa Anita, pacesetting Daddysruby  was just able to outlast a doggedly pursuing Big Pond  by a head-bobbing nose. Test Stakes (G1) runner-up Clearly Unhinged  was another four lengths back in third in the $302,000 race for 3-year-old fillies.

The placing judges took a couple of minutes to examine the photo and determine Daddysruby was just in front.

The Peter Miller trainee earned the victory, setting quick fractions of :22.21, :44.49, and 1:09.60 in the seven-furlong dirt race. But the lively tempo took a toll late, and her final eighth in :13.46 was just barely enough to repel Big Pond, who had tracked the pace under Frankie Dettori. Big Pond appeared to poke her nose in front just before the finish, and was in front on the gallop out, but Daddysruby had the advantage when it counted—right at the finish line.

"I wasn't so sure when we crossed the wire, but when my number went up, I was so happy," Hernandez said.

The gray or roan filly paid $14.20 to win in her stakes debut, improving to 5-for-6 overall. She races for breeder Jethorse and Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber and has earnings of $352,014. Wachtel Stable and Barber became partners in Daddysruby after a fast debut win for Jethorse and then-trainer Tim McCanna Jan. 7 on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields.

Wachtel Stable and Barber often buy racehorses who post quick speed figures early in their careers. Their most successful acquisition in this manner was the recently retired Channel Maker , who became a multi-millionaire and grade 1 winner while racing for them and other partners under the direction of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Asked how it felt to win a grade 1 on opening day at Santa Anita, Barber, a South African-born American film producer, replied, "There's nothing better; it matches everything. We put a lot of money into this game, and these are the moments we want to enjoy and share the victory with all the partners and friends."

Miller said as he waited for the results of the photo, "You don't remember all the photo finishes that you won; you remember all the ones that you've lost, so I'm sitting here thinking I lost another one."

That was not the case. He won his second La Brea after initial success with the Gary Stevens-ridden Heir Kitty  in 2013.

Hernandez also notched his second after striking last year aboard Fun to Dream  for trainer Bob Baffert.

Pedigree

• Daddysruby is the leading money earner this year for Frac Daddy , who stands at Colebrook Farms Stallion Station in Canada for CA$3,000. He entered racing on Tuesday as the 12th-ranked Canadian sire this year by progeny earnings.
• Daddysruby is the first stakes winner and second black-type horse for her dam, the winning You and I  mare Youtheprizeandi . Five of her foals of racing age have started, with four victorious. She also has a yearling Conquest Farenheit   yearling filly.

Video: La Brea S. (G1)