A head bob photo finish in the $102,500 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) made the March 15 crowd at Santa Anita Park collectively hold its breath, but those who backed the aptly named Take A Breath could soon let out a cheer to the tune of a $15.60 pay day.
The 4-year-old daughter of Bated Breath secured her first triumph at the graded level as well as her first in the United States. Bred in Great Britain by Highgate Stud, she rattled off a pair of class 4 wins last summer before being purchased privately by Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners.
"She was a reach for us, but we thought the quality was there," Rancho Temescal's Tim Cohen told Santa Anita's Zoe Cadman in the winner's circle Sunday.
The quality did not always get the opportunity to blossom in her first five starts—encountering troubled trips on a few occasions. However, she did show promise with two fourth-place finishes, both by 2 lengths or less, in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and American Oaks (G1T).
"She's just been a hard-luck filly. All of her races, she's had this problem and that problem," Cohen said. "She got a clear run today, and she showed us what she has."
One of the keys to victory in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Ana was the ride by Emisael Jaramillo, who rode the filly for the first time in allowance company Jan. 24 when beaten just a half-length in third. Jaramillo settled mid-pack in the strung-out field of 10 the first time down the stretch. After fractions of :24.30, :49.03, and 1:14.42, he opted to make an early surge forward into the far turn.
That would ultimately be the winning choice as runner-up Resolve and third-place finisher Mrs. Astor were further back in the field. Take A Breath was up fighting for the lead turning for home and, although it took a while to run down Public Assembly, had built enough of an advantage to hold off Resolve by a nose. Take A Breath completed the race in 2:02.06.
"She was ready for the ride today," Jaramillo told FanDuel TV's Kurt Hoover. "It was perfect today; the position, the finish. I like her."
The winner's circle was emotional afterward as trainer Mark Glatt won his third graded stakes of the year, and his first since his wife, Dena, died Feb. 12.
"Dena pushed her the last eighth," Cohen said.
With her first American victory under her belt, Take A Breath is now 4-0-2 overall from 13 starts for earnings of $134,670. Out of the winning Nayef mare Darling Grace, Take A Breath is a full sister to graded stakes winners Breath Away and Simply Breathless.
