(Benoit Photo)
ARCADIA, Calif. (July 9, 2016)—Heinz Steinmann’s homebred Theonewewaitedfor outran favored Miss Southern Miss through the stretch to take the $125,000 Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by 2 ¾ lengths Saturday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Mike Harrington, the California-bred daughter of Creative Cause got 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.82.
A first-out maiden winner going 4 ½ furlongs in open company here on May 26, Theonewewaitedfor sat a joint second with the favorite into the far turn as they pursued the pacesetter, Cioppino Pasadino. Approaching the quarter pole, Theonewewaitedfor put a neck in front and shook off Miss Southern Miss approaching the sixteenth marker to win as much the best.
“I’m speechless,” said Harrington, who also trained the winner’s sire, Creative Cause, for Steinmann. “It’s very special seeing a daughter of Creative Cause winning. His first baby won a stakes too, which puts him on the map…Ironically, she lived up to her name. I named her and when I did, I told the owner, this is ‘the one we’ve waited for.’ She’s always been the best filly in the barn.
“She’s definitely not a sprinter. Her dad ran a mile and a quarter (fifth in the 2012 Kentucky Derby and second in that year’s Preakness). Her mother ran a mile and an eighth, so there’s no reason why she won’t go long.”
With Chalon, who was the 2-1 second choice in the wagering scratched by the stewards with three minutes to post, Theonewewaited for was off at 3-1 in a field of six and paid $8.00, $3.00 and $2.60. Unbeaten in two starts, she picked up $75,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $118,680.
“I knew my filly would be up close, especially after the seven (Chalon) was scratched late,” said Bejarano. “I just dropped in behind Cioppino Pasadino on the lead…Flavien (Prat, aboard the favorite) moved a little early and tried to go by me, but I just kept waiting and waiting and my filly was good enough to hold on and win.”
Trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by Prat, Miss Southern Miss, who like the winner, was an easy first-out maiden winner, had no apparent excuses as she finished 5 ¼ lengths clear of Demigoddess. Off at 3-5, she paid $2.40 and $2.10.
“She broke a little slow,” said Prat, who entered the Landaluce three wins behind Bejarano in the race for leading rider. “She grabbed the bit a little on the backside and I thought I was on the best horse, but she just wasn’t herself today.”
Last turning for home, Demigoddess, who was ridden by Brandon Boulanger, kept to her task at the rail through the drive and finished third, 1 ½ lengths in front of Tap It All. Winless in two starts and off at 59-1, she paid $6.20 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.75, 45.06 and 57.39.