ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 11, 2015)—Warren’s Veneda shot through an opening at the rail turning for home and went on to a 5 ½ length in Sunday’s $75,000 Paseana Stakes at Santa Anita, as she covered a mile and a sixteenth on a wet fast track in 1:42.97 under Tyler Baze.
Trained by Craig Lewis, the 5-year-old California-bred mare avenged a head defeat to Tiz Midnight on Dec. 6 in the Grade II Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos. (Tiz Midnight, who was off at 3-5, ended up sixth in the field of seven older fillies and mares).
“This mare is really handy,” said Lewis, who sent her out to her sixth win from 20 starts. “Tyler told me that he wanted to lay a little closer to the pace today, and I thought maybe she should be further back. He told me when he cut her loose, it was over. She’s feeling good right now and she’s just a hard-trying mare.”
Owned by her breeder, Benjamin Warren, Warren’s Veneda was the second choice in the wagering at 4-1 and paid $10.40, $4.60 and $3.40. By Affirmative and out of the Flying Continental mare More Cal Bread, Warren’s Veneda picked up $60,600 for the win, increasing her earnings to $467,612.
“I had the perfect trip, said Baze, who was sitting a close fifth past the five furlong pole. “I wanted to keep her a little closer then I was at Los Alamitos last time out. According to the conditions, it seems like speed has been holding all day, so I just kind of rode her to them and she just tries so hard. She gives me everything she’s got every time she runs. It’s amazing to have a nice filly like that.”
Runner-up Taste Like Candy, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, finished three quarters of a length in front of Valiant Emilia and paid $6.20 and $3.60.
“I had to change tactics, the mud changes all tactics,” said Desormeaux. “You try to get close to the lead to keep the mud out of their face.”
Off at 14-1 and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Valiant Emilia sat second behind fractions of 22.80, 46.42 and 1:10.78. She finished 5 ¼ lengths in front of early pacesetter Legacy and paid $6.80 to show.
Racing resumes on Thursday, as Santa Anita will embark upon a five-day race week, culminating with the Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday on Monday. First post time on Thursday is at 1 p.m.
