ARCADIA, Calif. – Unhurried in the early going, sports talk icon Jim Rome’s homebred Gidgetta got rolling when it counted and was just up by a nose to take Friday’s $65,000 allowance feature at six furlongs over the Santa Anita turf. Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Flavien Prat, Gidgetta got the distance in 1:08.42.
Breaking from the rail in a field of seven fillies and mares with the inner turf rail set at 30 feet, Gidgetta was next to last about six lengths off dueling leaders A G Indy and Five Pics Please heading into the far turn. Set down mid-way around the turn, Gidgetta hit her best stride while wide-out through the drive and was just up to tag A G Indy in a thriller.
“I’m in love with this girl!” exclaimed Rome. “It’s such an awesome feeling. We’ve got just one broodmare and this is a long, slow process. I’ve been at the top of the game (defeating males twice with Mizdirection in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in 2012 and 2013) and I am as proud right now of what my girl just did as with anything we’ve ever accomplished.”
A close third going five furlongs on turf at the same second condition allowance level on Aug. 15 at Del Mar, Gidgetta was off as the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.00, $3.00 and $2.20.
“The extra furlong is nice,” said Baltas in reference to Gidgetta’s last start. “But I think she wants a mile. We’d like to run her down the hill and we’d like to win a stake with her. Jim’s got her half-brother, Straight Up G, in a Cal-bred maiden race (the fourth) tomorrow, so this is exciting.”
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Fast Anna out of Rome’s Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, Gidgetta has two wins from four tries over the Santa Anita turf and is 10-3-1-3 overall. With today’s purse share of $39,000, Gidgetta has earnings of $151,520.
Prat, who picked up his third win on the day, would go on to win four as he and Baltas teamed for another victory in the eighth race with Aqua Julia, who flew from dead last to return $16.60 to win.
In a heart-breaking defeat, A G Indy, who opened up by two lengths a furlong from home, finished a half-length in front of Bruja Escarlata. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, A G Indy was the third choice at 5-2 and paid $4.20 and $2.60.
The actual second choice at 5-2, Bruja Escarlata awaited room while mid-pack a quarter mile out and finished well to be third by 4 ¼ lengths over Beautiful Ballad. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Bruja Escarlata paid $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.27, 44.46 and 55.87.
Race 7 Replay
Gidgetta wins Race 7 on Friday, October 8th, 2021 at Santa Anita Park.
First post time for a nine-race card Sunday is at 1 p.m.
For info on the Best Breeders’ Cup Seminar click HERE
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Office
Photo: Gidgetta winning the feature Allowance race at Santa Anita Oct. 9, 2021. (Benoit Photos)
