Simply Breathless Saves Ground, Scores in Wilshire

ARCADIA, CA – Cloros Bloodstock’s Simply Breathless made it two straight American stakes scores on Saturday when she put forth a strong rally in the stretch to win the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Breaking from post 3 under Flavien Prat at 5/1 odds, Simply Breathless took back and allowed the pace to unfold in front of her. Ippodamia’s Girl set the early lead with Achira applying pressure through fractions of :23.30, :46.56, and 1:10.59. Though Achira dropped out at the 1/8 pole, Ippodamia’s Girl fought hard against challenges from Ollie’s Candy and Storm the Hill, but when Simply Breathless came roaring by, the race was finished.

After rallying strongly from near the rear, Simply Breathless had more than enough run to surpass the group. The Neil Drysdale trainee crossed with a 1 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:35.50 for the mile-long event over the firm turf course.

“She’s a very talented filly, she was the right horse to beat today,” Prat said. “She traveled well the whole race. We had to be patient around the turn, but once she got clear, she gave us a good kick. Since it rained rained here the past few days, it helped make the track softer, so it was good for her running on a familiar surface. She probably won’t mind going a (longer) distance.”

It was a four-way photo finish for second, with Ollie’s Candy getting second by a neck over the 5/2 favorite Storm the Hill, by another head over Ippodamia’s Girl, and just a nose to Don’t Blame Judy in fifth. Poster Girl took sixth behind them, while Achira, Tapped, A Little Bit Me, and Meal Ticket completed the order of finish.

Simply Breathless’ win was her second in as many starts since joining Drysdale’s barn stateside and improved her overall record to 15-6-2-4. The British-bred 4-year-old daughter of Bated Breath, whose American debut came when winning the Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 27, has now earned $161,963 in her career.

“She’s by a horse named Bated Breath, who’s becoming a hot sire in England,” Drysdale said. “He had another winner today at Ascot and he’s had three over there this week. I think she ran better today than she did up at Golden Gate. She’s getting the hang of it. On to Del Mar.”

Simply Breathless returned $12.20 to win, $5.40 to place, and $3.80 to show. Ollie’s Candy brought back $4.60 to place and $3.20 to show, while Storm the Hill paid $2.80 to show.