Revera (outside) defeats Himika © Benoit Photo
Running a day later than planned due to weather, a very classy Revera turned the tables on heavily favored Himika taking the $100,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes by three-quarters of a length Sunday at Del Mar going seven furlongs for two-year-old filles.
Breaking out of post four in a field of six, Antonio Fresu and Revera (9-2) had a perfect trip to the outside of heavily favored Himika (1-5), on the rail was pace setter Bourbon and Ginger. The three were off head and head on the track going into the far turn where Bourbon and Ginger started to fade. Midway down the stretch it was a two-horse race between Himika and Revera fighting down the lane with Sadler trainee, Revera pulling away from her rival the last sixteenth of a mile to win. Himika finished 4 ¼ lengths in front of Cosmic Heat (24-1) who was last after breaking slow and outwardly. Cosmic Heat made-up ground on the rail into the turn and rallied down the stretch to get the show dough.
“She has always been a nice filly. Today she stepped forward and moved. Today she looked fantastic. She really gave me a nice feeling. She likes to stalk outside and just make one move. Stated Fresu who won the Arnaz last year. “She showed her class and has shown improvement.”
With the weather cancellation on Saturday, the Arnaz was redrawn on Thursday and moved to Sunday. The shift in post position turned out to be beneficial to Revera who earned her first stakes win. In the Anoakia stakes, Himika prevailed by 4 ¼ lengths over Revera who had drawn the rail.
“With the redraw it really helped getting out of the one hole," said Sadler’s Assistant Juan Leyva. “It was nice having Bob (Baffert) on the inside of us instead of the other way around like last time. Then we had to go. He sat. Today it was the opposite. He had to chase and we were outside and (Revera) looked like she was traveling comfortably. I think that made the difference today.”
Owned by Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing Stables, U Racing Stables LLC, Et. Al. Revera paid $11,80, $2.60, and $2.10. She has improved her record to 4-2-2-0 with $142,274 in earnings. Himika trained by Bob Baffert returned $2.10 and $2.10. Cosmic Heat, who was ridden by Hector I. Berrios and trained by Peter Eurton, paid $4.00 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.80, 45.94, 1:10.65, and 1:23.77.
Live racing resumes with an eight-race card on Friday, first post time 12:30 P.M.
ANTONIO FRESU (Revera, Winner) - “She has always been a nice filly. Today she stepped forward and moved. Today she looked fantastic. She really gave me a nice feeling. She likes to stalk outside and just make one move. Today I was able to do that. Last time I couldn’t because I drew the rail, and I had to use a little too much early on and she was getting all the pressure on the outside from Himika. So today was a different race, and she stepped forward. She showed her class and has shown improvement.”
JUAN LEYVA, assistant for John Sadler (Revera, Winner) - “With the redraw it really helped getting out of the one hole. It was nice having Bob (Baffert) on the inside of us instead of the other way around like last time. Then we had to go. He sat. Today it was the opposite. He had to chase and we were outside and (Revera) looked like she was traveling comfortably. I think that made the difference today.”