ARCADIA, Calif. (June 20, 2021)—A seven-length first-out maiden winner versus statebreds on May 7, Terry Lovingier’s homebred At the Spa made it look easy in open company on Sunday at Santa Anita, as she dispatched of favored Laurel Canyon turning for home en route to a 2 ¼ length score in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante. Trained by Jorge Periban and ridden by Tyler Baze, At the Spa got five furlongs in 59.79.

With Laurel Canyon hustled from her rail post, At the Spa was immediately alongside as the raced as a team into the far turn. With Baze riding confidently, At the Spa shook loose a furlong out and proved much the best.

“Today, she had to fight it out a little bit and she prevailed,” said Baze, who also won the day’s previous race aboard Restrainedvengence in the Grade III American Stakes. “She’s matured so much from the first race, she’s just getting better. It’s going to be a bright future for her.”

Off as the second choice at 9-5 among a field of five juvenile fillies, At the Spa paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.20.

“I really feel excited because this filly really is a big filly,” said Periban. “Since the beginning, I knew she had so much talent, a lot of ability. I told Baze, before she ran, ‘I got something for you.’ And he believed me because we’re a good team. I had a lot of confidence, mucho. I can’t say what it was, but it was something in my heart (that) said today’s going to be another win.”

Owned by Lovingier, Tom Beckerle and Saul Carrillo, At the Spa is by the Uncle Mo stallion Outwork and is out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek. With today’s winner’s share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $107,580.

Ridden Umberto Rispoli, Munny Penny, who loomed ominously while third turning for home, was second best on the day, finishing three quarters of a length in front of Laurel Canyon. Off at 6-1, Munny Penny paid $4.80 and $2.60.

Laurel Canyon, a California-bred who broke her maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park May 13, was ridden by Flavien Prat and paid $2.20 to show while off at 8-5.

Fractions on the race were 22.17 and 46.40.

 

Jockey Quotes

TYLER BAZE, AT THE SPA, WINNER:

“Before the first time I got on her in the morning, Jorge told me he had something special for me. I worked her and I told him he had a special one here. She pretty much showed how good she was first time out, she fell on her head leaving there and picked herself up to still win easily that day. Today she had to fight it out a little bit and she prevailed. She’s matured so much from the first race, she’s just getting better. It’s going to be a bright future for her.

“Jorge and Val (Brinkerhoff), the guy I just won the stake for, are very special people. They’ve given me support throughout my career and the family has just been great. We’re like a big family her and it’s just nice to be a part of the little guys for a change. It seems like the big guys always win all the stakes and to win it for the guys that only have five or eight horses, it means more, it’s pretty special to them.”

 

Trainer Quotes

 JORGE PERIBAN, AT THE SPA, WINNER:

“I really feel so excited because this filly really is a big filly. Since the beginning I knew she had so much talent, a lot of ability. I told Baze, before she ran, ‘I got something for you.’ And he believed me because we’re a good team. I had a lot of confidence, mucho. I can’t say what it was, but it was something in my heart said today’s going to be another win. I Tyler, ‘Hey, let’s go to the Winners’ Circle.’ he said, ‘Will do!’.”

 

Owner Quotes

TERRY C. LOVINGIER, PART OWNER/BREEDER, AT THE SPA, WINNER:

“It was so exciting watching them come down. Watching two babies that I bred draw off together was very cool. I wasn’t sure if the gray filly was going get to her or not.

“We’ll be looking forward to the California bred races at Del Mar. We’ve also got a lot more babies coming up, so we will try to get them spotted and maybe some of them will find the open stakes levels too.”

 

he winning owners are Tom Beckerle, Saul Carrillo and Terry Lovingier (Breeder).

ARCADIA, Calif. (June 19, 2021)—Unexpectedly last early, Terry Lovingier’s homebred Fi Fi Pharoah battled through the lane with Eddie’s New Dream to win by a half length in Saturday’s $150,000 Melair Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Walther Solis and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Fi Fi Pharoah, a 3-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:46.41.

Breaking from the number three post position, Fi Fi Pharoah, who had pressed the pace en route to a one length maiden score going a flat mile on May 15, found herself last in a field of eight, about 10 lengths off of dueling leaders Mucha Woman and Omg It’s Jessica around the Club House turn.

Next to last by a similar margin and on the move with three furlongs to run, Fi Fi Pharoah wheeled four-deep turning for home as a hot early pace took its toll on the front-runners.

With Eddie’s New Dream and Mario Gutierrez taking the lead at the top of the lane, Fi Fi Pharoah joined the battled with a furlong to run and prevailed in a game effort.

“Last time, it worked for her with Rispoli,” said Solis in reference to the maiden score on May 15. “I didn’t think we would get beat this time. She just ran from the three eighths, she knows when she has to speed up. When she got in front, she started waiting for everybody. She’s a classy filly. I knew the filly was coming in 100 percent. I told Terry, ‘We got the filly.’”

Off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of California-bred or sired three-year-old fillies, Fi Fi Pharoah paid $6.00, $3.60 and $2.60.

Co-owned by Lovingier, Tom Beckerle and Amanda Navarro, Fi Fi Pharoah, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, notched her first stakes win today and improved her overall mark to 5-2-1-1. With the winner’s share of $90,000, she increased her earnings to $178,560.

“She’s so lazy in the mornings, she won’t give you anything until she reaches the quarter pole and takes off, so that’s what I was expecting for the race,” said Rispoli. “I knew the pace was on, so I stayed inside because she doesn’t mind staying back until I find a nice gap. I was following Mario (Gutierrez, aboard Eddie’s New Dream) until I had a chance to go into the clear.”

Eddie’s New Dream who finished 2 ½ lengths clear of I’m So Anna, was off at 7-2 and paid $4.00 and $2.80.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, I’m So Anna was the second choice at 5-2 and paid $2.40 while finishing 6 ¼ lengths in front of Pawnee.

Fractions on the race were 23.49, 47.47, 1:12.93 and 1:39.54.

The Melair is part of the lucrative Golden State Series. Sponsored by the CTBA, the Golden State Series is for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

 

Jockey Quotes

UMBERTO RISPOLI, FI FI PHAROAH, WINNER:

“I’ve been working with her and I’ve been really pleased with her. I kept telling Walther she’s getting better and better.

“She’s so lazy. In the mornings she won’t give you anything until she reaches the quarter pole and takes off, so that’s what I was expecting for the race. I knew the pace was on, so I stayed inside because she doesn’t mind staying back until I find a nice gap. I was following Mario (Eddie’s New Dream) until I had a chance to go into the clear.

“To be honest, I was expecting to win more easily, but I know she’s lazy. The more horses that go, the better it is for her. She needs a target. When horses run next to her, she always keeps going.”

 

Trainer Quotes

WALTHER SOLIS, FI FI PHAROAH, WINNER:

“Last time it worked for her with Rispoli, I didn’t think we would get beat this time. She just ran from the three-eighths, she knows when she has to speed up. When she got in front, she started waiting for everybody. She’s a classy filly. I knew the filly was coming in 100 percent. I told Terry (Lovingier), ‘We got the filly’.”

 

Owner Quotes

TERRY LOVINGIER, PART OWNER/ BREEDER, FI FI PHARAOH, WINNER:

“You can’t have a more special day. To breed them and then foal them out at the farm, to watch the birth, I mean she stood up in 15 minutes, she’s probably about 165 pounds right away. I have video of her nuzzling me from the moment she stood up, there’s nothing better. It’s just great.”

 

The winning owners are Tom Beckerle, Terry Lovingier (Breeder) and Amanda Navarro.