Becca Taylor Dominant in Evening Jewel

ARCADIA, CA – Nick Alexander homebred Becca Taylor unleashed an overwhelming stretch kick to take Saturday’s $150,000 Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita by 2 1/4 lengths under Flavien Prat, who notched his fourth stakes win of the day. Trained by Steve Miyadi, Becca Taylor got 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.15.

The Evening Jewel, for 3-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA.

A close second to pacesetter Pray for My Owner to the top of the lane, “Becca” was then long-gone in a thoroughly dominant performance.

A winner of her first 3 starts, her most recent a neck allowance win going 6 furlongs on February 21, Becca Taylor, a daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Old Topper, was off at 3/2 in a field of nine sophomore fillies and paid $5.00, $3.40, and $2.60.

Out of Alexander’s General Meeting mare Lady Sax, Becca Taylor, in her first stakes appearance, banked $90,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $190,800 while remaining unbeaten in four starts.

Last, about 8 lengths off the lead at the 3-furlong pole, Fi Fi Pharoah was caught four-wide at the top of the lane and finished second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of I’m So Anna in a terrific effort. Ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Walther Solis, Fi Fi Pharoah was off at 10/1 and paid $7.00 and $4.60.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, I’m So Anna rallied from mid-pack and kept to her task in game fashion to tag Pawnee by a neck for third money. Off at 12/1, I’m So Anna paid $6.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 21.47, 44.67 and 1:10.42.

Prat: “The trip went really well. She broke well and then I wanted to sit right off of the pace. She gave a good kick when I asked her to go at the end. She seems really responsive whether she is coming from behind or already in front, so I wanted to see how she would break and then go from there.”

Alexander: “I thought this was going to be a tough race for her. I thought there were three or four other horses in the race that would be tough. We were running against an American Pharoah (Fi Fi Pharoah). Flavien rode her perfectly. He stayed right behind Pray For My Owner and when it came time to run, he took off. Just like we drew it up.”