Santa Monica Rallies Late to Win Orchid Stakes

R Unicorn Stable's Santa Monica unleashed a five-wide rally into the homestretch and just got up to prevail over Ickymasho by a head in the March 29 Orchid Stakes (G3T), the last of three $100,000 stakes, two graded, on an 11-race card serving as a prelude to Saturday's Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) program at Gulfstream Park.

The Orchid, a 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares, followed the $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3T), a mile turf stakes for older horses, and the the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile race for older horses.

Trained by Chad Brown, Santa Monica was sent to post as the 1-2 favorite in the nine-horse field on the strength of a victory in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) and a placing in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine last year. The 6-year-old British-bred mare, who finished off the board in the Nov. 3 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs, came into Friday's race off a runner-up finish in the Jan. 26 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) on the Pegasus World Cup Day program.

Santa Monica was reserved off the pace by Irad Ortiz Jr. as Giant Zinger set easy fractions of :25.13 and :50.93 through the first half-mile before going on to cover six furlongs in 1:16.87 over the turf course rated good. Ickymasho, the second betting choice, tracked the leader under Luis Saez, then challenged the pacesetter turning for home and took a narrow lead in the stretch as Santa Monica was in the midst of an impressive five-wide sweep. Ickymasho edged away to a lead in midstretch but was unable to hold off the drive of the Brown trainee.

"I didn't have too many choices by the three-eighths pole. Nobody on the inside moved, so I had to keep her outside. I had to move early and wide, but I had the best horse in the race," Ortiz said. "Chad Brown's horses always come ready. They were going slow in front, so I knew I had to go early."

The daughter of Mastercraftsman posted a final time of 2:16.07. Ickymasho finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Giant Zinger for second.

Video: Orchid S. (G3T)

Making his stakes debut in the Appleton Stakes in his 19th start, Eloise and Peter Canzone Sr.'s Dr. Edgar opened a comfortable lead in the early stages and dug in to hold off a late charge from grade 2 winner Hawkish for a half-length victory.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Barclay Tagg, and narrowly favored over Hawkish at odds of 3-1, Dr. Edgar ran the mile in 1:34.65. Hawkish was two lengths ahead of multiple grade 3 winner Doctor Mounty in third, and Uncle B was a nose back in fourth.

"I thought he'd lay second all the way around and hopefully win," Tagg said. "He went right to the front and opened up a little on the backside—I got a little worried then. Julien gave him a little breather and went on to win it. He's knows the horse and he's an excellent rider."

A two-length winner in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Feb. 22 at Gulfstream following a stalking trip under Leparoux, Dr. Edgar went straight to the lead from post 2 in the field of nine and opened up by two lengths after taking the field through the first quarter-mile in :24.29.

Dr. Edgar extended his advantage to 3 1/2 lengths after running a half-mile in :47.87, but the cushion diminished to a head as six furlongs went in 1:11.74. Hawkish split horses once straightened for home with sights set on Dr. Edgar, but was unable to catch the winner.

"Before the race, it looked like there was no speed so I just wanted to break good and put him in the race," Leparoux said. "I ended up being by myself on the lead. When they came to me at the quarter pole, he re-broke and we went all the way. It was good."

It was the second win on the card for Tagg, who entered the day with one win from 24 starters. He took over training of Dr. Edgar last summer and has seen the gelded 6-year-old son of 2010 Preakness (G1) winner Lookin At Lucky  finish worse than second just once in six tries.

"I was lucky. I was given the horse when Carl Domino retired," Tagg said. "We'll play it by ear as we go along. He won the Appleton. It's a step up. If he can keep stepping up, we'll keep stepping up with him."

Video: Appleton S. (G3T)

In the 1 3/16-mile Skip Away Stakes, trainer Todd Pletcher's Marconi won by a half-length over grade 3 winner Sir Anthony, earning his first stakes victory. A $2 million son of Tapit , Marconi is a half brother to grade 1 winner and successful sire Mucho Macho Man  and is campaigned by Bridlewood Farm and Coolmore connections.

Video: Skip Away S. (BT)