Passion shows her heart in La Habra

Magnier, Smith and Tabor's PASSION (Came Home) gamely fought off a spirited

rally from 3-2 favorite Ariege (Doneraile Court) in the final furlong to take

the $113,350

La Habra S. (G3)

on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita on

Saturday. Trained by Todd Pletcher and piloted by Rafael Bejarano, the sophomore

miss was alert early and held a one-length advantage after reaching a half-mile

in :45 3/5. Turning for home Passion was still clear, but Ariege was emerging

with her run on the inside, and the exciting stretch run soon followed. The

winner never relinquished her edge and had a nose in front on the line while

clocking the about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13 2/5. The 3-1 second choice paid $8.60, $3.80

and $2.80.

Ariege was never far back and finished full of run in a fine runner-up

performance. The second-placer paid $3 and $2.60 while completing the $11.70

exacta ($1). Sweet August Moon (Malibu Moon) tracked while wide throughout and

stayed on well to earn the graded placing at 11-1. The filly gave back $5.40

while finishing the $109.30 trifecta ($1). Set Play (Van Nistelrooy)

concluded the $364.40 superfecta (7-4-9-10) as the 4-1 third choice and was

followed by Porto Marmay (Ire) (Choisir), Fanatical (GB) (Mind Games), Yasinisi

(Ire) (Kalanisi [Ire]), La Mina (Mineshaft) and Brides Folly (Tale of the Cat),

while Czechers (Indian Charlie) scratched.

Passion began her career with an emphatic 7 1/2-length drubbing of maiden

foes at Arlington Park and followed that with a deceptively good third in the

Adirondack S. (G2). The dark bay was unplaced in the Spinaway S. (G1), but

proved her class with a facile three-length win over this course in a recent

allowance/optional claiming prep. For her career, the Kentucky-bred sports $132,260 in earnings

from a 5-3-0-1 line.

The winner was bred by Trudy McCaffery and produced from the unraced Rajmata

(Known Fact), making her a half-sister to 2000 Hollywood Oaks (G2) queen Kumari

Continent (Kris S.). She also has an unnamed two-year-old full sister. Rajmata is

herself a full

sister to multiple stakes-winning sire Binalong (Known Fact).

Passion brought the gavel down at $260,000 at the 2007 Keeneland April

Two-Year-Olds in Training sale.