Fast developing filly Include Me Out won the La Canada Stakes under jockey Joe Talamo
It hasn’t been an easy beginning to the New Year for jockey Joe Talamo, especially in the Santa Anita meet. The veteran jockey fell into a ditch in the first month of the Santa Anita season, but shook off the severe slump to answer his critics in fine style when he guided the long shot, Include Me Out, making her first start on two turns, to a convincing 4 ¼ lengths victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita on 22 January, 2012.
With odds of 8 to 1, for trainer Ron Ellis, Include Me Out was settled near the back in a compact field, as two scratches reduced the field to six.
Include Me Out was in no hurry to make an impact on the race as she watched May Day Rose jump into the lead after breaking from the rail.
The pace setter turned in brisk fractions of 22.64 seconds for the quarter mile, 45.86 seconds for the half mile and 1 minute and 10.12 seconds for the six furlong marker.
Great Hot and Tiz Flirtatious were in pursuit of May Day Rose, but she seemed well in command, swinging off the final bend while keeping her lead intact.
May Day Rose going into the stretch had little left in her, and that is when Joe Talamo sensed to make a winning move and Include Me Out left the turn with the lead, racing wide to take control of the field.
Going into the upper stretch, Include Me Out powered down the strength, leaving her rivals way behind by putting some day light between her opponents.
It was a cruising victory as she covered the 1 1/16 mile event in 1 minute and 41.89 seconds. Great Hot finished third and the 17 to 10 favourite, Tiz Flirtatious, didn’t have enough legs to out finish the two as she wilted to finish third on the day.
The Kentucky bred daughter of Include, out of mare Don’t Trick Her by Mazel Trick, Include Me Out was exiting a fifth place finish in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at about seven furlongs.
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