|
|
Teddy's Promise surprises in La Brea
Ellis admitted that Sunday's Kalookan Queen would have been the more conservative spot. "I gave (the owners) an option," Ellis revealed. "I said, 'Hey, we can win that race tomorrow if you want and make her a stakes winner.' They said, 'Let's go for the big time,' so I couldn't argue with them. She was doing great." Fifth through an opening quarter in :22 1/5, Teddy's Promise improved her position steadily on the outside. She passed the stalking California Nectar, May Day Rose and Great Hot, and drew up to Home Sweet Aspen at the half-mile mark in :44 3/5. The leader was unable to offer much resistance, and Teddy's Promise soon struck the front. Meanwhile, Turbulent Descent didn't get off to a particularly alert start and was anchored at the rear of the field. The odds-on choice peeled to the far outside, but didn't make much headway in a lackluster effort.
"This was a rough trip, what can I say," jockey David Flores said. "I had to jump on the lead or be close, but you don't want to rush. She made a good run at the end, but there was a lot of traffic. When I moved out on the turn that was my only shot. I was hoping they would slow down, but a track like this runs pretty fast and the good horses won't stop that easy. The horse felt great, but it was too much to make up." "No (she didn't get off that well)," trainer Mike Puype said. "She was behind a little further (than normal) and behind all the field and had to circle everyone and went really wide. I mean really wide. But she still didn't kick it in, and the track's very fast, so it's hard to make up that ground once you're in that position. She didn't kick it in like she's capable of, so I'll just have to go over her well physically and see where we're at." Teddy's Promise more than doubled her bankroll to $350,808 from her 13-5-2-1 line. The daughter of Salt Lake flashed early promise for trainer David Hofmans, crushing state-bred maiden special weight rivals by 7 3/4 lengths at Hollywood Park as a juvenile. Teddy's Promise stepped up in class for the Sharp Cat Stakes, but compromised her chances by pulling early and was eased. After bouncing right back with a big optional claiming score, the dark bay was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the California Breeders' Champion here last December, but again faded to fourth. Few could have imagined that a year later, she would run away with the La Brea over this same track and trip.
"It is for her because she's just lightly raced mentally," the trainer said. "She has never closed in behind horses yet, so that (post) was a big reason why we ran today. The outside post really helped a filly like her. She's just learning really how to do things. "We'll just kind of regroup now. She's shown she can run with some of the best sprinters. We've got a long year." Teddy's Promise was produced by the Capote mare Braids and Beads, who is herself a three-quarter sister to Grade 3 hero and successful sire General Meeting. Multiple Grade 2 star and influential sire Carson City is also a family member.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
