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Lady Pimpernel proves elusive in Robert J. Frankel

Lady Pimpernel (center) got the best trip to prevail over Diversy Harbor (left) and Three Hearts (rail) (Benoit Photo) Triton Racing's Lady Pimpernel, a hard-luck third in the November 22 Red Carpet in her American premiere at Del Mar, benefited from a much smoother passage in Saturday's Grade 3, $101,000 Robert J. Frankel at Santa Anita. Part of a cavalry charge down the stretch, the 5-2 favorite took a while to pick up, but hit her stride in time to edge Diversy Harbor. The aptly-named daughter of Sir Percy was the second half of a stakes double for trainer Carla Gaines, who had earlier sent out Bolo to a smashing win in the Eddie Logan for juveniles. Nestled in midpack by Victor Espinoza, Lady Pimpernel bided her time as Kathleen Rose carved out steady fractions of :24 4/5, :50 and 1:14 2/5 on the firm turf. At the head of the lane, pace-prompting Rusty Slipper threw down her challenge, and Lady Pimpernel saw daylight to emerge between foes. But her rivals were also fanning across the track in pursuit, and the Frankel was up for grabs. Diversy Harbor unleashed an eye-catching run from the rear, mowing them down on the far outside. Then Lady Pimpernel, as though responding to the eruption, forced her nose in front at the wire. After covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 4/5, the winner furnished $7.80.

"Last time (in the Red Carpet), she broke a little slow and we had to make up a lot of ground," Espinoza said. "Today I wanted to stay closer to the pace. I didn't want to be too far back. She's a distance filly and she doesn't really have a strong closing kick…I took a shot. I saved ground (and) there was a bunch of horses that I was in between…For a minute, I did think Gary (Stevens, aboard Diversy Harbor) was going to get me but I knew she could keep going for just a little longer."

"I had a good trip until we came into the lane," Stevens said of his view from Diversy Harbor. "I had to swing out extremely wide. I really didn't want to give up that ground. I was loaded and there was nothing developing in front of me. She ran big."

Diversy Harbor was a neck up on Three Hearts, the Red Carpet winner, whose turn it was to have traffic trouble this time before closing on the rail for third.

"I just had nowhere to go," said Tyler Baze, the rider of Three Hearts. "She's way the best horse and should have won today."

Lady of Gold checked in fourth in the blanket finish, besting Kathleen Rose and Rusty Slipper. Next came Blingismything, Scooter Bird and Aguafria. There were three scratches -- Bee Brave, Floral Romance and Winning Rhythm.

Lady Pimpernel's first graded victory enhanced her resume to 16-5-4-3, $153,409. Originally trained by Henry Candy, the English import progressed through the handicap ranks in 2013 and into the summer of 2014, all while racing over trips from 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 miles. She earned a crack at listed stakes company in the August 13 Upavon Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury, where she sprang a 20-1 upset. The chestnut was then purchased by her new connections and shipped out to California.

Bred by Harts Farm Stud in Great Britain, Lady Pimpernel was a bargain $1,322 yearling at Tattersalls October. Candy snapped her up for $14,437 as a two-year-old at the same venue's Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in 2012.

Lady Pimpernel is out of the Belong to Me mare Angeleno, who is herself a half-sister to French stakes winner Air Trooper and top hurdler Annie Power. Their dam, German Group 3 heroine Anno Luce, is in turn a daughter of two-time German champion and noted broodmare Anna Paola.

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