Toinette Makes Winning Return in Autumn Miss
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Toinette wins the Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita Park
After an illness knocked her out of consideration for the Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1T), Toinette made an impressive, victorious return to the races Oct. 27 in the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
The Scat Daddy filly trained by Neil Drysdale settled in midpack early in the one-mile grass test under jockey Flavien Prat, advanced into striking position in the backstretch and into the final turn, and blew by pacesetter Ms Bad Behavior in the final furlong to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
It was her first start since a ninth-place run in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 7, which was preceded by her first graded win in the Edgewood Stakes presented by Forcht Bank (G3T) at Churchill Downs May 4, when she edged multiple grade 1 winner Rushing Fall.
"We were a little nervous coming off the layoff, since it's her first time back, so weren't sure," said Ken Baca, who co-owns the 3-year-old filly with Lisa Hawkins, Nicholas Hawkins, Joseph Hudson, and Lynne Hudson. "But (in the Edgewood) she really showed she has another gear.
"(Today) she had a lot of ground to make up, but she did it well, and she did it at her own pace."
Toinette did get a solid pace in front to set up her closing kick, as Ms Bad Behavior set fractions of :22.24, :45.65, and 1:09.23 through six furlongs, and by the quarter pole, the Blame filly opened up a 1 1/2-length lead.
"We had a pretty good trip," Prat said. "The pace was strong, and I wasn't expecting that. She was comfortable the whole way and gave me a nice kick turning for home."
Four wide as she entered the stretch, Toinette still had two lengths to make up on Ms Bad Behavior in the final furlong, but she easily breezed by.
"I was concerned about the 14-horse field, and she was well-ridden," Drysdale said. "We had a fast pace, and that did set it up a bit. This is a very nice filly."
Ms Bad Behavior held second, a half-length ahead of Streak of Luck. K P Pergoliscious finished fourth and was followed by Pulpit Rider, Flammetta, So Hi Society, Hey Negrita, Movie Moment, West Palm Beach, Streetwithnoname, Tesora, Spring Lilly, and Rayya.
Bred in Kentucky by J D Stuart, P C Bance, and A R Enterprises, out of the Sunriver mare I Bet Toni Knows, Toinette now has four wins from six starts and $258,920 in earnings. She was a $110,000 purchase out of the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.