Maxim Rate Gets Up For Senorita Score at Santa Anita
Image:
Description:
Photo: Benoit Photo
Maxim Rate wins the Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Unlucky to lose going 1 1/8 miles last time out, Slam Dunk Racing's Maxim Rate got a perfect trip under Kent Desormeaux in the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3T) May 4 at Santa Anita Park and prevailed by a half-length.
Trained by Simon Callaghan, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Exchange Rate completed the mile on firm turf in 1:36.31. With Ladymidtown setting the pace to the quarter pole, Maxim Rate, who tracked in second throughout, pounced and then outran Lady Prancealot in the final eighth of a mile.
"I watched the tape of her last race (grade 3 Providencia Stakes April 6), and you could see she was very unlucky to lose," said Desormeaux, who was aboard the filly for the first time Saturday. "When Joe (Talamo, aboard Lady Prancealot) came to (us) at the eighth pole, she had to find two more gears. … I think the pressure factor from (the other horses) helped her progress."
Off at odds of 6-5 in a field of six sophomore fillies, Maxim Rate paid $4.40, $2.60, and $2.20.
Maxim Rate nearly doubled her earnings to $123,000. A first-time-out maiden winner at a mile on turf Feb. 16 at Santa Anita, Maxim Rate, who is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Catch My Eye, now has two wins and a second from three starts.
"I watched the race here, and it was very exciting," said Callaghan via telephone from Churchill Downs. "I thought she'd be hard to beat after her last race. She got the trip we expected today, and cutting back to a mile wasn't a concern."
Lady Prancealot, who was last and about five lengths off the lead heading into the far turn, loomed menacingly turning for home while four wide and was second-best, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Ladymidtown.
The second choice at 5-2, Lady Prancealot paid $3.20 and $2.60.
Ladymidtown tired late but held third by a nose over English-bred Hostess. Off at 11-1 with Rafael Bejarano, Ladymidtown paid $3.80 to show.