Competitionofideas rallied from off the pace to win the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita (Photo credit: Santa Anita Park).
Last but on the move with five sixteenths of a mile to run, Competitionofideas, in her first graded stakes assignment, wheeled five-wide turning for home and inhaled dueling leaders K P Pergoliscious and Amandine en route to a stellar 2 ¾ length win under Joel Rosario in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita–North America’s final Grade I stakes of 2018. Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Klaravich Stables, Inc., the 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown got a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:59.77.
“She broke well, we saved ground and we took one shot,” said Rosario. “I thought we would be closer, but everybody wanted their spot, so I just let her settle. I always have to thank everybody for giving me the chance to ride here again and I really appreciate everybody. My plan for 2019 is just to see how it goes and go from there. We’ll see what happens.”
A close third with Rosario up in an ungraded one turn dirt mile at Aqueduct Nov. 22, Competitionofideas was off at 5-1 in a field of eight sophomore fillies and paid $12.20, $8.00 and $4.60.
Out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Devil by Design, Competitionofideas, who had never been beyond 1 1/16 miles, registered her third win from seven starts. With the winner’s take of $180,000, she increased her bankroll to $315,568.
Competitionofideas Wins American Oaks
Ridden by Tyler Baze, K P Pergoliscious nearly led gate to wire and was head and head with stablemate Amandine the final quarter mile. Off at a whopping 90-1, “K P” finished a head in front of Amandine and paid $48.20 and $13.80.
“She’s a really nice horse,” said Baze. “This is what she wants…a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half.”
As for English-bred Amandine, who was a facile 2 ¼ length one mile minor turf stakes winner just three days ago, she came to challenge her stablemate turning for home, but could never overhaul her. Ridden by Mike Smith, she was off at 4-1 and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of French-bred Colonia while paying $4.40 to show.
Californiagoldrush, who was dispatched as the 2-1 favorite, never threatened and finished seventh.
Fractions on the race were 24.02, 47.86, 1:11.95 and 1:35.84.
Legendary Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., who was celebrating his 72nd birthday, was on hand to present the American Oaks trophy.
