Photograph: Dan Birch/Eclipse Sportswire
cheerful boss On Saturday within the Grade 3 $100,000 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita, he held his place behind the pack downhill and fired off a powerful rally late, reeling in pacesetter Amorita with 50 yards to go, sparking an 18-1 upset.
Mike Smith led the 4-year-old filly on a ground-saving journey for coach Jose D’Angelo, sitting final of six on the backside of the hill and transferring into vary as the sector crossed the grime. Spirited Boss got here off the rail going into the ultimate furlong, lined up with Amorita on the sixteenth pole and gained by three-quarters of a size in a last time of 1 minute 12.00 seconds on the agency grass.
Amorita (7-1), educated by Richard Mandela and jockeyed by Mirko DeMuro, jumped to the entrance early, entered the flip with a two-length lead, after which settled alongside the rail. She posted occasions of 21.94 seconds and 44.45 seconds, however drifted to the within on the higher stretch and was unable to get previous the winner.
Odds-on favourite Queen Maxima (2-5), ridden by Juan Hernandez rather than Jeff Mullins, trailed inside vary all through the opening phases and constructed a four-length lead on the grime. She chased inside vary within the lane, however completed evenly, two lengths forward of the winner, finishing her trifecta.
Princesa Moche (9-2) gave a powerful chase from the skin early, however misplaced power and completed fourth. Tirupati (11-1) went into the stretch 5 large and pale to fifth. Salih (20-1) Uninterested in ending final. Love Appeals was scratched by the vet.
Spirited Boss paid $38.00, $19.80, $4.20. Amorita returned $10.00 and $3.00, and Queen Máxima paid $2.10 for the present.
The downhill turf stakes, roughly six furlongs in size, had been restricted to fillies and mares 4 years of age and older.
