Window Shopping takes the Summertime Oaks under Hector Berrios (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Richard Mandella’s lightly raced Window Shopping, a 16 ½ length maiden winner two starts back, benefitted from patient handling in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Summertime Oaks as she rallied to win by 1 ¾ lengths. Ridden by Hector Berrios, the 3-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah got a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:45.01.
Attentive to the pace while well within herself in the run to the first turn, Window Shopping was a close fifth, about two lengths off dueling leaders The Alys Look and Ancient Peace while between horses a half mile out, angled outside Ancient Peace turning for home and with Lily Poo to her immediate outside, she proved best in her second stakes assignment and fourth career start.
“My intention was to keep her close to the group,” said Berrios. “Thank God I got a good break and I was able to get a good position. As soon as we made the move around the far turn, she just switched on.”
A much troubled third at 5-1 in the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks April 8, Window Shopping was off as the 7-2 third choice today and paid $9.00, $4.80 and $3.80.
A $700,000 Keeneland September Yearling owned by Perry and Ramona Bass, Window Shopping now has two wins from three starts on the main track, as she was unplaced in her one mile turf debut at Del Mar Nov. 13.
With the winner’s share of $120,000, Window Shopping, who is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Joy, increased her earnings to $208,700.
“Perfect trip, he put her in a good spot, waited for the hole to open up and went for it and it worked,” said Mandella. “I was full of confidence. I knew she was going to win,” he added with tongue in cheek and the wink of an eye.
Ridden by Tiago Pereira, longshot Ancient Peace stayed determinedly, outrunning Lily Poo by a half length for the place. Trained by John Sadler and off at 15-1, Ancient Peace paid $13.00 and $8.00.
Last early with Umberto Rispoli up, Lily Poo finished three lengths clear of Anywho and paid $7.20 while off at 15-1.
The 2-1 favorite with Joe Bravo up, Anywho didn’t appear to have any excuses.
Fractions on the race were 23.26, 46.78, 1:11.36 and 1:38.09.
Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Sunday at 1 p.m., admission gates open at 11 a.m.
