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| Ventura strikes the front in the Santa Monica. Order This Photo Photo: Benoit |
The result seemed never in doubt as odds-on choice Ventura shook off stablemate Jibboom with a furlong to run en route to a measured one-length win, giving trainer Bobby Frankel and Juddmonte Farms the exacta in the $300,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) (VIDEO) at Santa Anita Jan. 31.
Ventura, making her first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Oct. 24, did not have to deal with Indian Blessing, the champion female sprinter of 2008. Indian Blessing was scratched, as expected, by trainer Bob Baffert, who is pointing her to the Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) in Dubai at the end of March.
"She hadn't been out for a while," Frankel said of Ventura, who defeated Indian Blessing by four lengths in a scintillating Breeders' Cup effort Oct. 24. "At one-to-five (odds), you get a little nervous."
With regular rider Garrett Gomez aboard, Ventura sat fourth as Baroness Thatcher set a smart early pace from the far outside. Baroness Thatcher tired, however, before reaching the quarter pole and Jibbom got the lead over She's cheeky heading into the homestretch. Gomez, who had advanced on the turn with Ventura, shook her reins at the top of the lane and Ventura responded.
She dueled with Jibboom down the lane but was in control in the final sixteenth while under firm handling. The clocking was 1:21.61 in the seven-furlong event for older fillies and mares.
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