The talented filly Book Review, making her debut for trainer Bob Baffert, rallied furiously in the final eighth of a mile to win the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park by a head.
Ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano, Book Review was allowed to settle back in sixth place early on as Reneesgotzip, Nechez Dawn, and heavily favored My Miss Aurelia dueled through quick fractions of :22.42 and :44.17. Mamma Kimbo was a few lengths behind them in fourth, with Candrea and Book Review several more lengths behind her. Creditcardroulette was the trailer.
Coming off the final turn, Nechez Dawn dropped out of contention, leaving Reneesgotzip and My Miss Aurelia alone on the lead at the top of the stretch. The two fillies battled gamely, with Reneesgotzip tenaciously clinging to the advantage as the finish approached.
However, rallying quickly on the far outside was Book Review, and while she appeared to be too far back at the eighth pole to possibly win, she found another gear late in the race and just managed to get up in time to win the seven-furlong race in 1:22.41 seconds.
Reneesgotzip edged My Miss Aurelia by a neck for second, while Candrea finished another length back in fourth.
The winner, a daughter of Giant's Causeway, had previously been trained by Chad Brown. She entered the La Brea off of a fifth-place finish in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct, but had previously won Charles Town Oaks and Imperial Gesture Stakes in good fashion. She has now compiled a record of five wins, two seconds, and a third from ten starts.
-Keelerman
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