Red hot Izzy Rules posted a gate to wire win in the Las Flores Stakes
The 5-year-old California bred mare, Izzy Rules, extended her winning streak to 4 when she romped to victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes, and in the process won her first graded stakes win in six and a half furlong test over Santa Anita Park’s
fast dirt track on 11 March, 2012.
Trained by Jeff Bonde for owners George Schmitt, Mary Clare Schmitt and Mersad Metanovic RM, Izzy Rules was sent as the 6 to 5 favourite to register her fourth consecutive victory.
The daughter of Peace Rules, out of mare Da Dance by Dayjur, Izzy Rules under jockey Edwin Maldonado was given a vigorous ride against five other opponents, which included the Brazilian bred, Great Hot, who was victorious in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes
at Keeneland last fall, and the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes winner, Home Sweet Aspen, who started the season with a spectacular win.
Both of these rampant fillies were no match for Izzy Rules in the Las Flores, who swiftly broke from gate number 2, and opened up a two length advantage straight away. She was in top form which was reflected while she carved sizzling fractions going the
opening quarter mile in 21.73 seconds and half mile in 43.31 seconds.
Entering the stretch, Izzy Rules opened up a significant advantage of two and a half lengths, and never showed any signs of fatigue as she surged and kept her opponents at bay, who struggled to stay within hailing distance.
Rafael Bejarano’s ride, Spectacular Sky spurted late and finished a timely second ahead of She’s Cheeky, who under jockey Joe Talamo, made her move from last and finished third.
Great Hot was never in the race as she finished a disappointing fourth as Home Sweet Aspen finished fifth.
“This win feels great, and it’s a dream come true," said Maldonado, a 29-year-old native of Puerto Rico. "I was hoping to win a stakes race here at Santa Anita, and I finally did. This filly is so nice going and is just easy to ride. My main concern during
the race was to try and get to the quarter pole alone because I knew she would do the rest of the work for me.”
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