Photo: Hollywood Park
Even though it was not easy, heavily-favored Charm the Maker
became a stakes winner Sunday, capturing the $100,000 Sharp Cat at Hollywood
Park.
Six weeks after finishing a close third in the Grade I Oak
Leaf at Santa Anita, the 2-year-old Empire Maker filly wore down Killer Graces
in the closing yards to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths at odds of 2-5.
Wide throughout after breaking from the outside in the field
of six, Charm the Maker was able to win for the second time in three starts.
The $60,000 payday increased her earnings to $127,800.
Trained by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally for his wife Debbie,
Charm the Maker, who was ridden by Garrett Gomez, completed the 1 1/16 miles
over Cushion Track in 1:45.14. The McAnallys bred the winner in Kentucky.
The victory enabled Gomez to become the first jockey to win
the Sharp Cat twice. His first win had come aboard Runway Rosie in 2006.
Charm the Maker, who defeated maidens by 4 ¼ lengths Aug. 31
at Del Mar
prior to her one length defeat in the Oak Leaf, returned $2.80, $2.40 and
$2.10.
Seeking her third stakes victory at Hollywood Park, Killer
Graces, who disputed the slow pace (24.03, 48.27 and 1 12:88) inside eventual
third place finisher Willa B Awesome, paid $4.20 and $3. The show price on
Willa B Awesome was $3.20. Lady Pecan, Regal Betty and Oblivious completed the
order of finish.
The win was the first in a stakes at the Autumn meet for
McAnally since he won the Intercontinental Handicap Nov. 28, 2007 with Charm
the Giant, who is the dam of Charm the Maker.
“We thought she was a good filly when we bought her back,’’
said McAnally. “We bred her and bought her back for $400,000 at the Keeneland
sale.
“I thought there would be a faster pace. That’s why the
rider had to get after her more than he thought he would. We’ll savor this one,
but the (Grade I, $250,000-guaranteed Hollywood)
Starlet (Dec. 10) is the most logical place to run next. We’re looking forward
to running her on the turf. Her dam won the (2007) Wilshire on the turf here.’’
In Sunday’s fourth race, Empire Way, a 2-year-old full
brother to Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Royal Delta, was a half-length
winner of his debut.
Owned by Heinz Steinmann and trained by Mike Harrington, the
son of Empire Maker and the A.P. Indy mare Delta Princess, won easier than the
margin would indicate. He completed the 6 ½ furlongs over Cushion Track in
1:17.93 under jockey Joel Rosario.