Selcourt Speediest In G2 Santa Monica

ARCADIA, CA – Medallion Racing, Keith Abrahams, and Sandra Lazaruk’s Selcourt was undoubtedly the speediest sprinter on Saturday, wiring a small but stout selection fo foes in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

Breaking from the outside post 5 under Tyler Baze, Selcourt immediately took command down the backstretch through fractions of :22.85 and :45.13. With Baze giving her the green light in the far turn, Selcourt opened up by 4 1/2 lengths, a lead that she was able to maintain to the wire. The John Sadler trainee completed the 7-furlong main track sprint in a final time of 1:21.00.

“This filly is scary-good right now, and she’s getting better and better,” Baze said. “John said to ride her with confidence, and I did. She broke really sharply and she was relaxed underneath me. Coming around the turn, when it was time to go, she took off.”

While never a threat to the winner, Marley’s Freedom used a ground-saving trip throughout to gain second late by 2 1/4 lengths over Skye Diamonds. The 4/5 favorite Paradise Woods faded in the stretch after running second for much of the race and fell to fourth late, with Just a Little Hope completing the order of finish.

Selcourt’s win was her third straight stakes score and the second graded event, following the Grade 3 Las Flores here in February last out. The 4-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful increased her career bankroll to $283,920. With Baze aboard for every start, she improved her record to 6-4-1-1.

“She’s been great all winter, going up the ranks and stepping up to challenges,” Sadler said. “There’s one step left, which is to go for the Grade I, so we’ll look around and see what’s available.”

Selcourt returned $7.40 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.40 to show. Marley’s Freedom brought back $7.60 to place and $4.20 to show, while Skye Diamonds paid $3.20 to show.

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