A disappointment when encountering some traffic trouble in her turf
debut a month earlier, Cozi Rosie rebounded stylishly in her
introduction to the Hollywood Park grass, winning the $100,000 Senorita
Stakes on Sunday.
Trained by John Sadler for owners Jerry
and Ann Moss, the 3-year-old Pleasantly Perfect filly out of the Golden
Fleece mare Felidia defeated Andina by one length.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Cozi Rosie ran the mile in the Grade III in 1:35.11.
Seventh of 10 in the Providencia, a Grade II, on April 3 at Santa
Anita, Cozi Rosie now has won three of seven. The $60,000 payday
increased her bankroll to $127,280.
In
front of only English import Hasty early on the backstretch, Cozi Rosie
made a bold move while three wide around the far turn, joined the
leaders into the stretch, got the lead from favored City To City with a
little more than a sixteenth of a mile to run and prevailed.
The
7-2 third choice in a field of seven reduced after the scratch earlier
in the day of Elusive Galaxy, Cozi Rosie paid $9.20, $5.20 and $2.40.
Andina, the 5-2 second choice, who finished a nose in front of 11-10
favorite City To City, returned $4.40 and $2.40. The show price on City
To City, who had won consecutive grass stakes at Santa Anita prior to
the Senorita, was $2.10.
“She had a lot of trouble last time
down on the rail,’’ said Sadler after his second career win in the
Senorita – he also won with Paula Revere in 1991. “She was in the clear
today. We knew she was capable of winning this. It’s always good to win
a graded stakes, especially with a filly.’’
Sadler indicated Cozi Rosie would be pointed to the $250,000 American Oaks, a Grade 1 at 1 ¼ miles on turf, on Saturday, July 3.
Smith,
who has won two of the three graded stakes offered through the first
eight days of the meet, believes Cozi Rosie still has plenty of
improvement in her.
“We kind of experimented with her last
time out, trying to get her to relax,’’ he said. “We were on the rail
and for a second it looked like she could get through, but she had to
steady.
“I moved her a little sooner today than I wanted,
but it worked out OK. This was another good learning experience for her
and I think she will move forward in the American Oaks.’’
Andina, who was trying to give trainer Ben Cecil a sweep of the weekend
stakes after his Wilshire win on Saturday with Medaglia d’Amour,
remains consistent. She has not been worse than third in five starts in
the United States.
Jockey
Joel Rosario offered no excuses for City To City, who had taken the
China Doll and Providencia in a span of six weeks earlier in the year .
“My
filly was closer to the pace today, but she was doing it so easy,’’
said Rosario. “(Cozi Rosie) just blew by her. You have to give credit
to the winner, she was just too good. Maybe we’ll get her next time.’’
Both Rosario and Rafael Bejarano had a pair of wins on Sunday. Tyler Baze leads the standings with 15 victories.
Racing resumes on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
Post time for the eight race program is 1 p.m.