BloodHorse
4/08/2023
Molly Rollins & Corrie McCroskey
Little Red Feather Racing's, Elm Drive, landed the $201,000 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita Park in a comeback effort for trainer Phil D'Amato.
A stakes winner every year she's raced, the 4-year-old daughter of Mohaymen -Let's Dance Charlie, by Indian Charlie capitalized when the Monrovia was moved to the main track, where she has run exclusively over her career.
Guided by jockey Ramon Vazquez, Elm Drive pressured the pace-setting Leggs Galore early through a :21.96 opening quarter before nudging ahead of her rival, sweeping past the half-mile marker in :44.42. With Leggs Galore on the retreat, Elm Drive drew clear at the top of the stretch and held sway over runner-up Big Summer.
Elm Drive hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front in a final time of 1:15.56 under Ramon Vasquez on a fast main track.
A $165,000 purchase by John Dowd for her owners at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Elm Drive improved her record to 4-0-1 from nine starts and earnings to $348,140.
Elm Drive in the Monrovia Stakes
Photo by Benoit Photo
