India Mantuana Speeds to Red Carpet Upset

India Mantuana, a 4-year-old filly claimed for $40,000 in August by trainer Ray Bell, hung on gamely in the final strides under a masterful ride by jockey Tyler Baze to complete a gate-to-wire victory Nov. 22 in the $100,000 Red Carpet Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar.

Off at 18-1 Richard Bell's Wilburn  filly was sent to the lead shortly after the start of the 1 3/8-mile grass marathon, was rated by Baze, and held on to win by a half-length over the onrushing Siberian Iris. Another half-length back were 6-5 favorite Vexatious and Escape Clause in a dead heat for third.

"I had the binoculars on her, and she just kept getting farther and farther in front," Ray Bell said. "I could see she had her ears pricked and was very relaxed. I was amazed that somebody didn't go with her. That was the only chink in her armor—if somebody would have gone with her and softened her up. She doesn't have that real acceleration, but she's a real staying-type filly. She keeps up that one pace and just keeps on going and doesn't give up.

India Mantuana opened up a six-length lead through a half-mile in :47.78, then continued on through six furlongs in 1:12.95 and a mile in 1:37.51. She finished the distance in 2:14.50 and returned $39.60, $15, and $5.20 across the board for her sixth victory in 24 starts. She increased her earnings to $222,047 with her first stakes win.

"When I was young and played baseball, I was really fast (and) stole a lot of bases," Baze said. "Think I might have stolen a horse race here. That wasn't really the plan. It just happened. I just wanted to ride her like I did here last summer—not fight her (and) let her do her thing. She was just going easy out there. Sometimes it isn't how fast they're running, it's how they're doing it. She was doing it the right way today."

Runner-up Siberian Iris, off at 11-1 under jockey Flavien Prat, returned $12.80 and $4, while Vexatious and Escape Clause paid $2.10 and $2.20 to show, respectively.

"I asked her and she gave me a very good kick," Prat said. "The winner just got away from us."

India Mantuana was bred in Kentucky by Paul Knapper, out of the Tomorrows Cat mare Speed Wagon.

Video: Red Carpet H. (G3T)