Comebacking Fantastic Style picked up where she left off Sunday at Santa Anita, as she cruised to a four length win under Rafael Bejarano in the Grade III, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes. Trained by Bob Baffert, she carried the red, white and blue colors of owner Kaleem Shah six furlongs in a rapid 1:08.79.
Idle since a smashing 3 ½ length win in the Grade II Great Lady M Stakes on July 11 at Los Alamitos, Fantastic Style sat second to speedy longshot Amaranth down the backside, seized command leaving the quarter pole and went on to win in-hand.
Off at 1-2 in a field of five older fillies and mares, Fantastic Style paid $3.00, $2.40 and $2.10.
“I decided to use her a little bit from the gate to stay close,” said Bejarano. “I sat second the whole way and I knew the five, Amaranth, was done. She’s been working really well in the mornings, so I think she’s getting better and better.”
In posting her third consecutive win and her fifth from seven overall starts, Fantastic Style, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Harlan’s Holiday, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $332,000.
“She just cruised,” said Mike Marlow, assistant to Baffert. “He (Bejarano) was loaded all the way. She was off for a while but Bob had her ready. She was really impressive. It was a good comeback race.”
Ben’s Duchess ran-on well from off the pace for second money and was ridden out past the wire by Abel Lezcano. Off at 6-1, she finished 3 ¾ lengths in front of Cadet Roni and paid $4.20 and $2.60.
Ridden by Gary Stevens, Cadet Roni out-finished Finest City by a neck. Off at 5-1, she paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.09, 44.66 and 56.50.
Racing resumes on Thursday at Santa Anita, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
