Pretty N Cool Makes Return a Winning One in G3 Las Flores Stakes

ARCADIA, CA — In a driving rain, comebacking Pretty N Cool surged to the front five-sixteenths of a mile from home en route to a decisive 1 3/4 length win over favored Constellation in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Martin Garcia and trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old grey daughter of Scat Daddy covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.49.

“She was ready today, and I think this is her best distance, six furlongs,” said Garcia.  “She has a lot of natural speed.  She likes to run with time in between races and does well when she gets it.  It was a tough race today, but she was pretty impressive.  She came back strong.”

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Pretty N Cool picked up her third graded stakes win and improved her overall mark to 11-5-1-1.  With the winner’s share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $498,905.

“If you look at her work pattern, she was ready to run today, and Bobby is pretty good off a layoff,” said Pegram.  “She looked pretty good today.  With this rain, this one was for the love of the game!”

Constellation, who came off a win here in the seven-furlong Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on December 26, was gaining gradually on the winner late, but the verdict was never in doubt through the drive.

Fractions on the race were 21.88, 44.63, and 56.87.  A multiple graded stakes winner who had been idle since September 2, Pretty N Cool was off at 9-2 in a field of five older fillies and mares.  Constellation went off as the 4-5 favorite with Flavien Prat and finished three quarters of a length in front of the Rafael Bejarano-ridden Ponder Lea, who went off at 17-1.  The early leader Sensitively and Watch This Cat rounded out the order.

Pretty N Cool returned $11.80, $4.60, and $2.80.  Constellation brought back $2.80 and $2.10, while Ponder Lea paid $3.60 to show.

Santa Anita Park