ARCADIA, Calif. –Self Isolation stamped herself as a California-bred filly very much on the improve on Friday at Santa Anita, as she made an easy lead and proved much best in taking the day’s $69,000 allowance feature by 3 ½ lengths under Mario Gutierrez. Owned and bred by Reddam Racing, LLC and trained by Doug O’Neill, the daughter of Square Eddie got one mile on turf in 1:36.27.
Breaking from post position seven in a field of eight California-bred or sired fillies and mares, Self Isolation had her neck bowed through an opening quarter mile of 24.18 and maintained a two length edge to the top of the lane while never remotely threatened.
“We were hoping to make the lead, but I didn’t think she’d do it that easily,” said O’Neill, recently returned from Dubai, where his Hot Rod Charlie finished second in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday. “I thought they’d be going quicker, but when I saw 48 and one, I was like ‘Okay, I like this.’ She was uncontested, so a great job by the filly, great job by Mario and great job by team Reddam.
“My next phone call is to Paul (Reddam). I wish she was three, ’cause she might be heading to Kentucky…Being a Cal-bred, by Square Eddie, there’s so many great options here locally, so we’ll look for something Cal-bred down the road, for sure.”
A one mile Cal-bred maiden turf winner in similar fashion on Feb. 21, Self Isolation was off as 2-1 second choice and paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.60.
Out of the Spring At Last mare Loan Savant, Self Isolation is now 8-2-1-2 and with the winner’s share of $41,400, she increased her earnings to $112,860.
Favored at 3-2, Vivacious Vanessa rallied from fourth to tag Big Clare by a head for second money. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, she paid $2.60 and $2.20.
Big Clare, who loomed ominously around the far turn, flattened out a bit late to finish third, two lengths better than longshot Clearly Gone. Off at 9-2 with Kyle Frey, Big Clare paid $2.80 to show.
Complete fractions on the race were 24.18, 48.27, 1:12.00 and 1:23.98.
First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m., admission gates open at 11 a.m.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Self Isolation (Benoit Photo)
