La Tia wires allowance, aims for Beverly D.

La Tia wires allowance, aims for Beverly D.

Hernandez Racing Club's 2012 Arlington Oaks winner La Tia made her debut an

impressive one on Saturday, scoring wire-to-wire in a solid allowance on

Saturday at Arlington Park. The Grade 3-winning

daughter of City Place, a well-bred Storm Cat stallion, defeated a stakes-worthy

field at an overlooked 8-1.

Last year, in addition to her Oaks victory, La Tia romped in Arlington's

Purple Violet Stakes, finished a valiant one-length beaten fourth in the Hatoof

Stakes on Million Day (her turf debut) and easily wired the field at Woodbine in

the La Lorgnette Stakes. After an uncharacteristically poor performance in the

Raven Run at Keeneland, in which she missed the break and was

subsequently outpaced, the speedy filly was given seven months rest.

Despite the break and only making her second start on grass, La Tia was ready

to go.

"She was ready a couple weeks ago, but we didn't want to run her on the

dirt, so we waited," victorious trainer Armando De La Cerda said. "We were

confident she was fit because she worked six furlongs in 1:12 on the turf the

other day. But, with the soft turf, I wasn't sure she would like it because

she's very heavy."

De La Cerda, who is in his first year of training on his own, was the

assistant trainer for La Tia's previous trainer, Brian Williamson. After

spending five years with Williamson, De La Cerda had the opportunity to go out

on his own, and now may have himself his first stakes winner.

Though new to being the head of the barn, De La Cerda is anything but new to

the game.

"I have been lucky enough to work for Noel Hickey, Mike Stidham,

Moises Yanez and Brian Williamson," said the trainer who is winning at an

impressive 15 percent clip from just under 50 starters. "I have been working horses for

over 21 years."

Such experience probably lends itself to both his record and credence in La

Tia's future.

"We will aim her toward the Illinois-bred stakes (June 15, Lincoln

Heritage Handicap) and then maybe the (Modesty Handicap) and the

Beverly D.," De La Cerda reported.

"She's very smart now and a lot more mature," he added. "She's getting

better and she came out of the race good. She looked great today. The way she

ran, after seven months -- we think she can run with the big fillies."

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