Baubel Queen won her first stakes race and helped Garrett Gomez celebrate his 40th birthday in style by winning the Robert J. Frankel Stakes
The lightly raced 4-year-old filly, Baubel Queen, showed an amazing turn of foot in the Grade 2, $150,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes over Santa Anita Park’s turf course to down 5 other rivals on 1 January, 2012.
The 1 1/8 mile long race, formerly known as San Gorgonio, is named after the Hall of Fame trainer, Robert Frankel, who died in November 2009.
Trained by J. Eric Kruljac for owner, Joe Masino’s Class Racing Stable, Bauble Queen won for the third time in eight career starts, landing her first stakes' win and giving jockey Garrett Gomez, who won the event for the fourth time in his career, consecutive wins in the Frankel Stakes.
Garrett Gomez won the 2009 edition of the race with Spring Style, but on 1 January, 2012, on his 40th birthday, the veteran jockey celebrated the day with a victory, riding Baubel Queen.
Jerry Hollendorfer trained 5-year-old mare, City to City, was sent off as the 9 to 5 favourite in the race. The City Zip filly was ridden by Rafael Bejarano, and she carried top weight of 123 pounds.
Baubel Queen, drew the rail, but broke out well from the gate and settled in fifth, in an evenly contested field of six older fillies.
David Flores’ ride, Turning Top, showed a little more than the rest in the initial stages.
She covered the opening quarter mile in 24.58 seconds, half mile in 49.27 seconds, and six furlongs in 1 minute and 12.78 seconds.
Reaching the mid stretch, Turning Top was in total command as she led the pack by three lengths, but the rampant filly left the door ajar for Baubel Queen, who was running in tandem, with Miss Mittagong in the middle of the track.
Baubel Queen completed a well planned out race under Garrett Gomez despite the slow place, as she nabbed the pace setter, Turning Top, by half a length to cover the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1 minute and 48.22 seconds over firm ground.
Miss Mittagong finished another half length, further back to finish third, as the favourite, City To City, under Rafael Bejarano, finished a non-threatening fourth.
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