Vale Dori runs winning streak to five in Santa Margarita S. (G1)
Vale Dori (ARG) affirmed her status as the top older filly or mare on the West Coast with an authoritative victory in the $400,000 Santa Margarita S. (G1) over last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Finest City.
Winner of three straight Grade 2 starts, Vale Dori took the fight to Finest City right out of the gate. The duo was right together through six furlongs in 1:12.21. Vale Dori began to inch away from her pursuer at the top of the stretch and hit the finish 1 1/2-lengths ahead of Finest City, with another 10 lengths back to the field.
“Today was the first time I think that she was pressured almost the whole race. She showed me a lot of power, a lot of heart,” said winning rider Rafael Bejarano. “I don’t think she minds coming from behind but (after) having a clean break, I just took it from there.
“I thought that from the first jump Finest City would be fast and would be on the lead. When I saw that she didn’t really want to go and didn’t relax into the first turn, I just took control and took advantage of (Vale Dori’s) speed.
Vale Dori, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, is now a four-time graded stakes winner of $943,943. She is Bob Baffert’s first Santa Margarita winner.