In the Las Flores Stakes, Ooty flew late and left a strong impression

Returning from a layoff of several months, the Argentine mare finished third, beaten 3 lengths, after trailing far back in the early stages

Ooty’s head appeared along the rail, while Margarita Girl secured her biggest career victory / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California.— The weekend at Santa Anita Park turned into a dream come true for trainer Mark Glatt and the Saints or Sinners stable. Just 24 hours after capturing the San Vicente Stakes (G2) with So Happy (Runhappy), the duo returned to the winner's circle in the Las Flores Stakes (G3 - 1200m, dirt, $100,000), this time courtesy of a powerful performance by Margarita Girl. However, for South American racing fans, the standout note of the day came from the Argentine-bred Ooty, who, in a high-flying return from a layoff, proved she is ready for big things in the demanding California circuit.

The race unfolded at a blistering pace from the start. Thermal (Nyquist), the second choice, went to the lead through intense fractions of :21.74 and :44.11, closely tracked by longshot No Bad Beats (Midnight Storm). Meanwhile, at the back of the pack, Ooty felt the effects of her inactivity. The daughter of Dabster, who had not competed in several months, sat dead last, disconnected from the field and appearing out of the race during the first half of the journey.

As they turned for home, Margarita Girl, guided by Ricardo Gonzalez (replacing the injured Antonio Fresu), found her best stride on the outside. After racing off the pace—a new facet of her campaign—the daughter of Twirling Candytook command with authority in the final 100 meters to cross the wire with a 1 3/4-length advantage over No Bad Beats, stopping the clock in 1:09.19.

"We’ve had high expectations for Margarita Girl since we purchased her for $575,000," Mark Glatt commented. "Today she showed she has learned to relax, and that makes her a better mare."

But if the winner was the star of the result, the chestnut Ooty was the star in terms of projection. Under Juan Hernandezand the tutelage of Bob Baffert, the defender of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s colors launched a cinematic late surge along the rail. After trailing the second-to-last horse by several lengths, the Argentine began to close ground with astonishing visual power, passing rivals as if they were standing still.

Ooty finished third, just 1 1/4 lengths behind second place, eating up the track in the final strides. Had the race been 100 meters longer, it would have been a photo finish. Her performance was deemed highly meritorious and encouraging, considering it was her return to official competition after a long hiatus.

Ooty's effort in the Las Flores Stakes not only confirmed her adaptation to the environment but left the distinct feeling that, with this race under her belt, great things are on the horizon...