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Tuscan Evening shines in Buena Vista William de Burgh's TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) tracked just in behind the pacesetting Czechers (Indian Charlie) in Monday's $150,000 Buena Vista H. (G2) at Santa Anita, easily overhauled that rival in the stretch and drew off to score by 2 1/4 lengths on the wire. "I knew the number four (Czechers) had speed and that he (jockey Kent Desormeaux) could send him or try to put pressure on me," jockey Rafael Bejarano said. "He sent him, so I wanted to stay behind him and let my horse stay more relaxed. From the three-eighths, my horse has a good turn of foot, she can really fly. She came running and I didn't have to worry about anybody else coming late. I was on the best horse." Tuscan Evening returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.10 for the win as the even-money favorite. Eissoai (Brz) (Roi Normand), who raced in third down the backstretch, rallied to take second by a half-length over Czechers, paying $20.40 and $10 as the 35-1 eighth pick. The pacesetter set splits of :22 3/5, :45 3/5 and 1:09 3/5, but had to settle for third at 18-1, giving back $7. The $1 exotics were worth $40.10 (exacta), $438 (trifecta) and $1,808.90 (5-7-4-1 superfecta). Cat by the Tale (Tale of the Cat), Pretty Unusual (Unusual Heat), Spring Style (Ire) (Pivotal), Meydan Princess (Ire) (Choisir), Dreamalong (Rahy), Starlarks (Ire) (Mujahid), Damaniyat Girl (Elusive Quality) and Applause (Ire) (Danehill Dancer). Chasin Dreams (Cactus Ridge) was withdrawn. Tuscan Evening made her mark chiefly as a miler last season, garnering the Royal Heroine Mile (G2), Las Palmas H. (G2) and Redondo Beach S. and finishing second in the November 28 Matriarch S. (G1) to conclude 2009. The five-year-old bay began the new year with a win in the Monrovia H. (G2) on the downhill turf, over which she had previously placed third in both the Las Cienegas H. (G3) and Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3). "It was a perfect ride by Rafael," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "He didn't chase after a real fast pace and that's what allowed him to win. "I haven't made any plans about her next race. We're going to look at several different things. We might consider the (March 6 Frank E.) Kilroe Mile (G1) although I'm almost totally against running against colts. I'm sure she can get more distance." Formerly based in Ireland with John Joseph Murphy, Tuscan Evening placed in four stakes as a juvenile in 2007, chief among them the Debutante S. (Ire-G2), without managing to break her maiden. At three, the bay crossed the wire a close second in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), just a head back of Halfway to Heaven (Ire), only to be disqualified and placed fourth. Her scorecard now reads 23-8-4-5, $719,408. Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs in the Emerald Isle, Tuscan Evening was a bargain $8,762 yearling at Tattersalls October. She most recently went through the auction ring at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in November, fetching a bid of $650,000. Tuscan Evening was produced by Park Hill S. (Eng-G3) runner-up The Faraway Tree (Suave Dancer), who is herself a half-sister to French Group 1 winner Sasuru (Most Welcome [GB]) and English Group 2 heroine Sally Rous (Ire) (Rousillon). Tuscan Evening hails from the family of Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert), queen of the 2001 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), and English Group 2 victress Crystal Capella (Cape Cross [Ire]), who was runner-up as the defending champion in the October 17 Pride S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket.
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