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Balance restored in La Canada Amerman Racing Stables' BALANCE (Thunder Gulch) proved best on Sunday in the $200,000 La Canada S. (G2) at Santa Anita, exactly one year after her length victory in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) over the same track. The David Hofmans-trained four-year-old was sent off the 6-5 favorite against five rivals and returned $4.40, $3 and $2.40 while keying $1 exotics of $9.70 (exacta) and $43.40 (4-1-2 trifecta). "I expected her to run really hard today because she's been wanting to do something for about a week," Hofmans said. "It's great to have her back. I think she's stronger and bigger. You can see it." Witch Woman (Awesome Again) quickly moved to the front after the gates opened, setting splits of :23 2/5, :47 1/5 and 1:10 4/5 while pressed by Sweet Belle (Deputy Commander) and Kris' Sis (Forestry). All the while, Balance and jockey Victor Espinoza were tracking the pace, just to the outside of Les Ry Leigh (Broken Vow). The pressure eventually began to take its toll on Witch Woman, who started backing up as the field entered the stretch. Circling the turn four wide, Balance hooked up with Bai and Bai (Falstaff) at the head of the stretch, but repelled her challenger and pulled away to record a 4 1/4-length victory. She completed nine furlongs on the wet-fast dirt in 1:49 2/5. "I just wanted to go around, be in the clear and have a free run," Espinoza said. "She was in the bridle when she came out of the gate and was dragging me all the way to the first turn. She settled down from that point and after that it was over with." Bai and Bai, who had scooted through along the rail around the turn, held second by three parts of a length to pay $4.80 and $3.20 at 5-1. Les Ry Leigh was up for third at 10-1, giving back $4, and it was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Witch Woman. Sweet Belle and Kris' Sis finished out the order under the wire. Sugar Shake (Awesome Again) was withdrawn after taking Saturday's Santa Maria H. (G1). Balance was a major contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last season, taking the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) before finishing a distant third in the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland and a well-beaten 11th as the 8-5 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks. Exiting the Oaks with an injury, she was sidelined until late December, when she ran a nice third in the La Brea S. (G1) to close out her three-year-old season. As a juvenile in 2005, she captured the Sharp Cat S. and placed in two stakes, including a second in the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1). The bay miss now boasts a 10-5-1-3 career mark and $720,159 in lifetime earnings. Bred in Kentucky by Maverick Production Limited, Balance brought $260,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is the second registered foal out of the winning Vertigineux (Kris S.), making her a half-sister to stakes victress Where's Bailey (Aljabr), an unraced sophomore filly named Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) and an unnamed yearling filly by Pulpit. Hofmans said that the March 10 Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) would be next for his charge.
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