Warren's Veneda rallies to win $200K Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita
Warren's Veneda rallied to win the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Tyler Baze, Warren's Veneda ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.18 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $2.60 as the 9-5 co-second choice.
Uzziel returned $38.40 and $11.60 as the longest shot in the eight-horse field at 52-1.
Thegirlinthatsong was another length back in third and paid $2.60 to show as the co-second choice.
The victory, worth $120,000, increased Warren's Veneda's career earnings to $587,612, with seven wins in 21 starts. It was her first graded stakes victory for trainer Craig Lewis and her owner-breeder Benjamin C. Warren.
Warren's Veneda was caught wide around both turns.
''Going into the first turn I thought about taking her back and dropping her in, but I told myself to just have confidence and I knew she was the best in the field,'' Baze said. ''I lost a little ground, which I really don't like doing but she was the best. She amazes me, she's just a great animal.''
