Neige Blanche (between horses) refuses to be denied in the Possibly Perfect (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— In what amounts to a gem in the training profession, Leonard Powell’s French-bred Neige Blanche overcame a nine-month layoff to successfully defend her title in Sunday’s $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes as she refused to be denied between horses late, taking a three-horse photo by a neck providing jockey Diego Herrera with his first-ever Thoroughbred stakes win while getting a demanding mile and one quarter on turf in 2:01.44.
With a hillside start, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Australia Mia went to the front in the run by the Grandstand for the first time, holding a one-length edge over post time favorite Buzz of New York, with Neige Blanche and Queen Ofthe Temple in close attendance third and fourth.
Turning for home, Australia Mia had a 1 ½ length lead on Neige Blanche, who had Buzz of New York to her immediate outside. In a thrilling head-and-head battle, a neck and a head separated the top three on the money.
“I monitor the heart rate of all my horses and I have a scale, so I put her on and I knew she was on par to where she was last year, so it gave me confidence,” said Powell, himself a French native. “Everybody was asking me questions this morning, so I started doubting myself. She got it done today.
“At the three-eighths when Diego got boxed in a little bit, when the riders were riding ‘Neige’ more than the other horses, it gave me some anxious moments, but Diego stayed cool and she showed her heart.”
Idle since finishing off the board here in the Grade I Rodeo Drive Stakes on Oct. 8, Neige Blanche, a six-time North American stakes winner coming in, was off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80, $4.60 and $4.00.
“She broke fairly well,” said Herrera, who rode Neige Blanche in the afternoon for the first time today. “Leonard told me to just keep her wherever she was comfortable, she was moving really nice. Around the half mile pole, they started to pick it up and I just was following the pace.
“At the three-eighths, I got boxed in but she is a game filly, so I just tried to remain calm. When I got the split at the quarter pole, it was all business from there. We are just grateful to be able to ride for people like Leonard, the owners and all the connections. Just grateful for everything.”
A 6-year-old mare, Neige Blanche is owned by Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify and Mathilde Powell. With seven overall stakes wins in Southern California, one Group III win in France and four North American graded victories, Neige Blanche is now 22-10-0-4. With today’s winner’s share of $60,000, she now has earnings of $602,780.
Ridden by Joe Bravo, Queen Ofthe Temple, in search of her second consecutive stakes win, bested pacesetter Australia Mia by a head and paid $3.20 and $2.20 while off as the second choice at 9-5.
In a remarkable front-running effort, Australia Mia finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of longshot Zeyaraat and paid $4.40 to show while off at 6-1 with Umberto Rispoli.
Buzz of New York, the 8-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez, tired through the drive and checked in last.
Fractions on the race were 24.15, 48.84, 1:13.03 and 1:37.09.
The Possible Perfect was run as race one on a 12-day closing day card at Santa Anita. The Grade III San Juan Capistrano Stakes has been carded as race five.
$100,000 POSSIBLY PERFECT STAKES
JOCKEY QUOTES
DIEGO HERRERA, NEIGE BLANCHE, WINNER:
“She broke fairly well. Leonard told me to just keep her wherever she was comfortable, she was moving really nice. Around the half-mile pole, they started to pick it up and I just was following the pace. At the three-eighths I got a little boxed in, but she is a game filly, so I just tried to remain calm. When I got the split at the quarter pole it was all business from there. We are just fortunate to be able to ride for people like Leonard, the owners and all the connections, just grateful for everything.”
TRAINER QUOTES
LEONARD POWELL, NEIGE BLANCHE, WINNER:
“I monitor the heart rate of all my horses and I have a scale, so I put her on and I knew she was on par to where she was last year, so it gave me confidence. Everybody was asking me questions this morning, so I started doubting myself. She got it done today.
“At the three-eighths when Diego got boxed in a little bit, when the riders were riding ‘Neige’ more than the other horses it gave me some anxious moments, but Diego stayed cool and she showed her heart.”
NOTES: The winning owner is Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify, and Mathide Powell.
