Balance Keeps It Steady in Second 2006 Win

There may be some doubt about who is the best 3-year-old colt or gelding in the country, but there can be no argument about the top 3-year-old filly in the United States.

Most observers agree the power in the 3-year-old filly division lies in California, and Balance again asserted her superiority over the locals with a 2 1/2 -length win in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Making it consecutive Grade I wins to kick off her 2006 campaign, the daughter of Thunder Gulch wasn’t bothered by a wide trip. The heroine of last month’s Las Virgenes, Balance took over entering the stretch and drew away like a horse who will only get better with more distance.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for owners John and Jerry Amerman and trained by David Hofmans, Balance, the 8-5 second choice, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.99 for her fourth win in six starts.

The ultimate goal for Balance, who was purchased for $250,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale in 2004, is the Kentucky Oaks on May 5. Whether she runs before then remains to be seen.

“We’ll let her tell us,” Hofmans said. “She was so full of herself today. We might have to run her before [the Oaks].

“She’s the best 3-year-old filly I’ve had. I’m just telling you, I’m very impressed with her.”

Quiet Kim, a 27-1 shot, finished second, three lengths clear of 13-10 favorite Wild Fit, who is now 0 for 3 in races around two turns and winless in two starts since being purchased privately by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and turned over to trainer Patrick Biancone.

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Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who began Sunday tied for eighth in the jockey standings at Santa Anita, will be leaving to ride in New York at the end of the month.

According to Jim Pegram, who has been Desormeaux’s agent since Feb. 16 and will accompany the rider east, Desormeaux will begin riding at Aqueduct on March 29 and will remain on the circuit until late in the year. Pegram said the hall-of-fame rider will be back when Santa Anita begins its winter-spring meet Dec. 26.

“We feel there is a big opportunity there for Kent right now,” Pegram said.

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Purim, the 4-1 second choice, rolled to a two-length victory in the $150,000 Razorback Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Trained by Tom Proctor for owner E.J. Sukley, the 4-year-old Dynaformer colt won for the fifth time in 10 starts. Ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, Purim ran the 1 1/16 miles in the Grade III in 1:43.77.

Rockport Harbor, the prohibitive 2-5 favorite, finished fifth. In losing for only the third time in eight starts, the 4-year-old Unbridled’s Song colt thwarted a sweep of the weekend stakes at Oaklawn for owner Fox Hill Farms, trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott. They had won the Azeri by a neck the day before with favored Round Pond.

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In a ceremony that included many former winners of the award, Mark Guidry was honored as the latest recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award at Santa Anita.

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In other races around the country, Magnolia Jackson, the 4-5 favorite, wore down pacesetter and 4-1 third choice Sweet Sweet to take the $70,995 Broadway Handicap at Aqueduct, and 5-1 shot Go Now won the $100,000 Palm Beach Handicap at Gulfstream Park.