Fabulous filly foils foes

Stardom Bound(Tapit) easily won the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita today. She now could be headed to the Santa Anita Derby against the boys on April 4th. After getting boxed in on the backstretch, and trapped behind a wall of horses she still powered to a 1 1/4 length win in 1:36.43 for the mile race, in last to first style.Her jockey, Mike Smith had no problem with the traffic trouble."I was trying to slow her down going down the backside and get her to relax. She hadn't run in six months, so she was wanting to go,” Smith said. “I wasn't concerned around the turn when I was boxed in. I was actually glad to be bottled up really, because I didn't want to ask her to run too early. I figured if I stayed stuck, something would probably open up by the eighth pole. She accelerates so good, it's amazing. She's a dream to ride."

On the sythetic Pro-ride surface she earned her 4th grade 1 win. Her new owner, IEAH stables had this to say about her possible next career start in the Santa Anita Derby.

"I don't see why she wouldn't go on. I don't know what else she has to prove against the girls,” Iavarone said. “I'll talk it over with [trainer] Bobby [Frankel], but I think that's what we want. I think that's what racing wants.”

I just have to say this filly just keep getting better in my eyes. She is just as good, if not better, than most of the colts this season. A very impressive win. Stardom Bound is out of the mare My White Corvette.

Friesian Fire(A.P. Indy) was able to cinch his win in the $200,000 Risen Star (G3) at Fair Grounds today as well. He gained the lead on the final turn three wide, and stretched to a 2 length win lead. The Risen star was the first start at 1 1/16 miles for the colt. Ridden by Gabriel Saez he won in 1:45.11 on a fast main track. (Go Larry Jones! He's having a great season and deserves to have one too. He's had a bunch of crap thrown his way just because of the Eight Belles incident.) Flying Pegasus finished second, third place finisher was Uno mas. Friesian fire is out the mare Bollinger(Dehere)

Meanwhile, Beethoven(Sky mesa) was back on the track today, one week after his fourth place finish in the Holy Bull. He breezed an easy five furlongs and the Fountain of Youth seems like a possible next start for the colt.

Pioneerofthenile(Empire Maker) won the Robert B. Lewis under Garret Gomez in the final sixteenth explosion. He went the 1 1/16 miles race in 1:41 1/5 and made himself California's leading Kentucky Derby hopeful.

Have a nice night everyone

Kirsten