Evita Argentina inhales foes in La Brea

Evita Argentina flew from last to first (Benoit Photo) Getting the strong pace to run at that was denied her at various times this season, Halo Farms and Three Sisters Thoroughbreds’ EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) made a bold, six-wide move turning for home and overwhelmed her 10 sophomore filly rivals inside the final furlong to win Saturday’s $300,000 La Brea S. (G1) going away by two lengths. Under Joel Rosario, the John Sadler pupil concluded seven furlongs on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride in 1:21 3/5. The 4-1 second choice paid $10.40, $5.40 and $4. A three-way duel for the lead was the story for the early part of the La Brea. Kays and Jays (Macho Uno), Amazed by Grace (Bowman’s Band) and 5-2 favorite Gabby’s Golden Gal (Medaglia d’Oro) passed the quarter in :22 4/5 in that order, while Amazed by Grace took a slight advantage over Kays and Jays after a half in :45 as Gabby’s Golden Gal had already commenced her steady retreat. The deep-closing Evita Argentina, meanwhile, was content to trail until midway through the far turn when Rosario swung the chestnut out in preparation to circle the field, and the filly responded strongly and proved the easiest of winners at the finish.

“This filly likes to make one run, so I try to just leave her alone early and
keep her comfortable. She relaxed so well today that when we came to the
five-sixteenths pole, I had a lot of confidence, and I though I had a good
chance to win,” Rosario said.

Starlarks (Ire) (Mujahid), making her first synthetic start in the United
States, rallied from near the back to edge Amazed by Grace for second by a head.
The 22-1 chance paid $15.40 and $7.40 while the 5-1 third choice gave back
$4.80. Rose Diamond (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]), also at 22-1, was a half-length
further back in fourth. The $1 exotics paid $71.20 (exacta), $543.90 (trifecta)
and $5,350.20 (5-6-4-11 superfecta).

Kays and Jays wilted to fifth and was followed under the wire by Will O Way
(Broken Vow), Gabby’s Golden Gal, Pinkarella (Malibu Moon), Minute Limit (Ire)
(Pivotal), Alice’s Smart (Smart Strike) and Dani Reese (High Demand). Mother
Ruth (Speightstown) was withdrawn.

Evita Argentina notched wins in the Sorrento S. (G3) and Moccasin S. as a
juvenile, and was a fast-closing second in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) in her
seasonal bow in January. She came right back to prevail by a length as the
favorite in the San Vicente S. (G2) over males. After a pair of setbacks she
returned to her winning ways in the A Gleam H. (G2) at Hollywood Park over older
fillies and mares, but entered the La Brea off two lackluster efforts in the
Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). She improved her
mark here to 13-6-1-0, $611,400.

Bred by Halo Farms in Kentucky, Evita Argentina is out of the winning
Jealous Wildcat (Forest Wildcat), who has since produced two full sisters to the
winner, an unraced two-year-old named Candy’s Affair and an unnamed yearling, as well as a
weanling full brother. Evita Argentina comes from the same family as Grade 1
hero and sire Trippi (End Sweep) as well as multiple Grade 2 winner Appealing
Skier (Baldski).