Odds-on fav bags second stakes win. (Benoit Photo)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Back to sprinting, Himika delivered as the 1-2 favorite to earn her second stakes win in the $85,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs at Santa Anita.
With Juan Hernandez aboard, Himika sat just behind dueling leaders Heavenly Princess (26-1) and Revera (8-5) as that pair went the opening quarter mile in 22.55 seconds. Himika, racing three-wide, ranged up to that duo near the quarter pole reached in 45.65 seconds and kicked clear in the stretch to win by 4 ¼ lengths. Revera, ridden by Antonio Fresu and trained by John Sadler, finished second with another two lengths back to Stuffy Mist (22-1) in third.
“I had a good trip,” Hernandez said. “I took advantage of my post being to the outside with speed to my inside…I let the speed go and was really comfortable. She was traveling really well down the backside. Turning for home when I asked her to pass the horses in front of me, she did it pretty good.”
Trained by Bob Baffert, Himika won in a time of 1:10.40. The daughter of Curlin previously finished fifth when trying two turns for the first time in the GII Oak Leaf at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 4.
“She was in a good spot, had a great post and she was manageable to rate, so I felt pretty confident,” Baffert said. “You just don’t know how much that last race took out of her, but it looks like it didn’t take a lot out of her. I was happy that she is back to winning form. She basically told us, no two turns for now, but maybe down the road.”
Himika, was purchased for $900,000 by owner Baoma Corp at this year’s OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training. She improved to 5: 3-0-0 with $202,822 in earnings. In August at Del Mar, Himika earned her first stakes win when scoring in the GIII Sorrento going six furlongs.
Himika paid $3.00, $2.10 and $2.10. Revera, who was facing winners for the first time, returned $2.20 and $2.10. Stuff Mist paid $3.00.
Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m.
