Puxa Saco runs up a Storm at Hollywood

When the gates opened in Sunday's $106,400 Desert Stormer H. (G3) at Hollywood Park, Abounding Truth (Proudest Romeo) and Quick Cover (Score Quick) immediately rushed to the front to battle for pacesetting duties. Moving through the first quarter in :22 1/5, it was Abounding Truth who emerged on the lead as Quick Cover started fading by the time a half had been reached in :45 1/5. Abounding Truth wouldn't stay on the lead for long, though, as Richard Rowan's PUXA SACO (Dehere) started her run around the turn. Waiting patiently just behind the pacesetters, jockey Mike Smith gave his mount the signal and the pair flew in between horses to grab the lead. The final margin of three lengths at the wire just vindicated the public's faith in Puxa Saco, who was sent off as the even-money favorite in the five-horse field and stopped the clock for six furlongs on the fast track in 1:09 3/5.

Puxa Saco rewarded her backers with payouts of $4, $2.60 and $2.10 while keying the $6.80 exacta ($1). Tucked Away (Unusual Heat) came with her usual late stretch run to take second by two lengths over Ramatuelle (Chi) (Jenue Homme), returning $4.40 and $2.40. Show was worth $2.40. Abounding Truth finished another four lengths farther back in fourth while Quick Cover completed the order under the wire.

Puxa Saco earned her first graded win here and improved her mark to 20-6-5-2 with $400,575 in earnings. Trained by Jenine Sahadi, the five-year-old mare was most recently seen in the winner's circle when taking a Hollywood allowance in June of last year. From four starts this season, the chestnut ran second in the Las Flores H. (G3) and Woodside H. as well as recorded a third-place finish in the Humana Distaff H. (G1) last out.

Bred in Kentucky by Homer Noble and Gayno Stable, Puxa Saco was bought by her current owner for $8,500 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is the first registered foal out of the winning Salty Sal (Cox's Ridge), making her a half-sister to an unnamed yearling colt by Came Home as well as a 2005 filly by El Prado (Ire).